Pope Francis set to be discharged after 38 days in hospital

The Pope's doctors gave their first in-person update on his condition in a month, in a sign that Francis has made good and steady progress in his battle against double pneumonia.

After 38 days battling a life-threatening case of pneumonia in both lungs, Pope Francis will be released from the hospital on Sunday, his doctors said.

Francis will, however, require at least two months of rest and rehabilitation as he continues recovering back at the Vatican, Gemelli medical director Dr. Sergio Alfieri said on Saturday.

Francis was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14 after a bout of bronchitis worsened. He later developed a life-threatening case of pneumonia.

Pope Francis ’ doctors provided their first in-person update on the pontiff’s condition in a month, in a sign that he has made good and steady progress in his battle against double pneumonia.

The Saturday evening briefing is the first since Feb. 21, a week after the 88-year-old Francis was brought to hospital. He subsequently experienced several respiratory crises that landed him in critical condition, though he has since stabilized.

In another development, the Vatican announced that Francis would appear on Sunday morning to bless faithful from his 10th floor suite at the hospital.

While Francis released an audio message on March 6 and the Vatican distributed a photo of him March 16, Sunday’s blessing will be the first live appearance since Francis was admitted on Feb. 14 for what has become the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.

The Argentine pope, who has chronic lung disease, is prone to respiratory problems in winter and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted after a bout of bronchitis worsened.