Pope Francis to be discharged from hospital and will convalesce at home

The pontiff, 88, has been cleared to leave Vatican's care unit after treatment for pneumonia in both lungs

- Angela Giuffrida

Pope Francis, who is recovering from pneumonia in both lungs, will be discharged from Rome’s Gemelli hospital today, his doctors said.

The pontiff, 88, will return home to Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City on “protected discharge”, and he will need to convalesce for two months, Sergio Alfieri, a general surgeon at Gemelli hospital, told reporters.

The health of Francis, who was admitted to hospital on 14 February and diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia, has been steadily improving over the past two weeks, Alfieri said.