Pope Francis is scheduled to leave Gemelli Hospital on Sunday, according to Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the hospital’s medical director.

The Vatican has also announced that the Pope will make a public appearance Sunday morning, offering a blessing to the faithful from his hospital suite on the 10th floor before returning to the Vatican.

At a press conference, Dr. Alfieri stated that the Pope’s life was in danger during his hospitalization, but he has since shown “slow but progressive” improvement through “pharmacological therapy, the administration of high flow oxygen and assisted mechanical ventilation.” Alfieri clarified that the Pope was never intubated and remained conscious throughout his treatment.

Dr. Alfieri stated that Francis will need at least two months of rest and rehabilitation at the Vatican to fully recover. Doctors advise the Pope to avoid large gatherings and public activities during this period.

Dr. Alfieri was accompanied by Dr. Luigi Carbone, head physician of the Vatican’s Health and Hygiene Office, and Matteo Bruni, the Pope’s spokesperson, at the press conference held in the entry hall of Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic. Pope Francis has been treated there since February 14, after a bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors said the Pope was hospitalized for 38 days while battling a life-threatening case of pneumonia in both lungs.

Dr. Alfieri specified that the Pope suffered “acute respiratory failure due to a polymicrobial infection.”

The Saturday evening briefing was the first in-person update on the Pope’s condition since February 21, a week after the 88-year-old Francis was admitted to Gemelli hospital. He subsequently experienced several respiratory crises that put him in critical condition, although his condition has since stabilized. Alfieri told reporters that the Pope’s voice has been affected by the double pneumonia, but it is expected to improve over time.

The doctor added that the Pope’s recovery would be best served outside of the hospital, where exposure to viruses could weaken his condition. Alfieri confirmed that the Pope did not have COVID-19 but had been exposed to various viruses.

While Francis released an and the Vatican shared a photo of him on March 16, Sunday’s blessing will be his first live appearance since being admitted on February 14. This hospitalization is the longest of his 12-year papacy. The Argentine Pope, who has chronic lung disease, is susceptible to respiratory issues during winter and had a portion of one lung removed when he was younger.

Upon admission, doctors initially diagnosed a complex bacterial, viral, and fungal respiratory tract infection, which soon developed into pneumonia in both lungs.

Blood tests revealed signs of anemia, low blood platelets, and the beginning of kidney failure. These issues were later resolved after two blood transfusions, according to officials.

The most serious complications began on February 28, when Francis had a severe coughing fit and inhaled vomit, requiring the use of a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask to assist his breathing. He experienced two more respiratory crises in the following days, necessitating doctors to manually aspirate the mucus. Subsequently, he began using the ventilation mask at night to help clear fluid accumulation in his lungs.

Over the past two weeks, the Vatican press office has reported that the Pope’s condition has stabilized. He no longer needs the ventilation mask at night and is receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen during the day.

Dr. Alfieri clarified that the Pope no longer has double pneumonia but still has some infections and needs to continue recovering.

‘ Courteney Walsh and