<

div aria-live=”polite” aria-atomic=”true”>
Pope Francis is set to be discharged from the hospital on Sunday and will require a two-month period of rest within the Vatican, as confirmed by one of the doctors who treated him.
Francis, who is 88 years old, was admitted to a hospital in Rome on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that necessitated ongoing treatment adjustments.
A global community of Catholics and others have been offering prayers for his recovery. Many have been leaving flowers, candles, and notes outside the Gemelli University Hospital in Rome where Francis is receiving treatment.
Francis’s first public appearance since falling ill will occur on Sunday from the hospital.
“The Pope Francis is planning to wave and impart a blessing from the Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome following the Angelus prayers,” the Vatican has officially stated on Saturday.
The Angelus prayers, which are typically led by the Pope at noon (11:00 GMT) weekly, have been absent for the past five weeks in what is an unprecedented occurrence since Francis’ election in March 2013.
Despite his absence, Francis has made appearances from Gemelli Hospital during previous hospital stays, including on July 11, 2021, when he delivered Angelus prayers after undergoing colon surgery from his tenth-floor balcony.
This current hospitalization marks the longest duration of his papacy to date.
On Wednesday, the Vatican announced that Francis had discontinued the use of an oxygen mask and that his health was “improving,” leading to inquiries about who may conduct the numerous religious ceremonies leading up to Easter on April 20 – a critical period in the Christian calendar.
The Vatican has yet to make any definitive decisions regarding this matter.
Critics speculate that due to his frailty, Francis could resign, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
On Monday, Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, acknowledged an improvement in Francis’s condition when speaking to journalists.

However, when asked whether discussions regarding the Pope’s resignation had taken place, he firmly replied, “No, no, no, absolutely not.”

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/22/pope-francis-to-leave-hospital-on-sunday-needs-two-months-rest-doctors?traffic_source=rss