Pope Francis' doctors and Press Office Director brief journalists at the Gemelli Hospital. Photo credit from The Vatican

Pope Francis is heading home. After spending over a week at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital due to bilateral pneumonia, the 87-year-old Pontiff will be discharged on Sunday and will return to his residence at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican to continue his recovery.

Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the head of the Pope’s medical team, shared the good news with reporters on Saturday evening, confirming that the Pope’s health has seen “steady and rapid improvements.” According to Alfieri, when Pope Francis was admitted on February 14, he was suffering from acute respiratory insufficiency due to a polymicrobial infection, which led to pneumonia in both lungs. However, after receiving a combination of treatments, he has made significant progress.

The Pope’s recovery hasn’t been without challenges. Alfieri revealed that he experienced two critical episodes where his life was in danger, requiring non-invasive mechanical ventilation and high-flow oxygen therapy. Despite this, he was never intubated and remained alert throughout. Doctors say he still needs time to regain his full strength, so he has been prescribed at least two months of convalescence.

While he won’t be jumping straight back into his usual schedule of meetings and public engagements, the Pope is expected to continue his work from the Vatican. Alfieri reassured reporters that even during his hospital stay, Pope Francis stayed informed about current events and continued working as much as possible.

For now, the focus is on rest and rehabilitation. “The best way to recover is to do so at home,” Alfieri said, emphasizing that the Pope is happy to be heading back. While he may take things slow for a while, the hope is that he will soon regain enough strength to fully resume his duties.

As the world watches and prays for his continued recovery, one thing is certain—Pope Francis remains as resilient as ever.