In a press conference held this evening at the facility, also attended by Dr. Luigi Carbone, the Holy Father’s medical representative, Alfieri noted this decision was made 37 days after his admission, following an evaluation of his stable improvement over the past two weeks.

The Bishop of Rome will return to his residence, Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican, where he expects a convalescence of at least two months, during which he will continue his treatment with the respiratory motor, and physiotherapies he has been receiving for several days.

Alfieri, director of the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences at Gemelli, summarized what has happened since the Pope was hospitalized on February 14th “with acute respiratory failure due to a polymicrobial infection.”

Viruses, bacteria, and fungi caused severe bilateral pneumonia, which led to combined drug treatment, and two “very critical” episodes occurred that put his life in danger.

Thanks to drug therapies, the administration of high-flow oxygen, and noninvasive mechanical ventilation, a slow and progressive improvement was achieved, “allowing the Holy Father to emerge from the most critical episodes,” although “he was never intubated” and “always remained alert, oriented, and present,” the specialist specified.

The medical prescription now is to “partially continue drug therapies” for a long time and orally, although it is also important to observe “rest during convalescence, for at least two months.”

For his part, Dr. Carbone, who also serves as the Vatican’s deputy director of Health and Hygiene, explained that Francis will receive “a protected discharge” from Santa Marta, but “no special arrangements were set up, but rather his needs were assessed,” as with all patients recovering from pneumonia.

Regarding some temporary after-effects, Alfieri explained that “it will take time for his voice to return to what it was before,” because “when you have bilateral pneumonia, your lungs are damaged and your respiratory muscles are also in difficulty,” although in recent days “significant improvements” have already been recorded.

The Pope lost some weight “but he has a good reserve and we are not worried about it,” he added, clarifying that “he did not have COVID or diabetes,” as some sources claimed.

“We have prepared to receive him at home,” Carbone said, assuring that the Vatican Directorate of Health and Hygiene will offer the Supreme Pontiff all the care he needs during his convalescence.

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