Pope Francis set to leave hospital, recharged and ready for recovery at home

Pope Francis will be discharged from Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital on Sunday, March 23, following significant improvements in his health after treatment for bilateral pneumonia. 

The Pontiff  will return to his residence at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican to continue his recovery.

According to Dr. Sergio Alfieri, head of the medical team overseeing the pope’s care, the decision to discharge him follows steady clinical progress.

"The good news the world is waiting for is that tomorrow the Holy Father will be discharged," Alfieri told reporters, noting that while the respiratory infection was serious, it was treated successfully without intubation.

The pope faced two critical episodes during his hospital stay, moments during which his life was in danger. Prompt medical intervention—including non-invasive ventilation and high-flow oxygen therapy—ensured he remained conscious, alert, and communicative throughout.

In a testament to his resilience, Pope Francis resumed limited work duties during his recovery, staying engaged in Church governance and international developments. Nevertheless, doctors have prescribed a minimum two-month convalescence, during which his schedule will remain light and focused on rest and rehabilitation.

Dr. Alfieri praised Pope Francis as a “model patient” who was collaborative and attentive to medical guidance.

“The best way to recover is to do so at home,” he said, underlining that this discharge marks a transition—not an end—to his healing journey.

As word of Pope Francis' hospitalization spread, the global Catholic community mobilized in prayer. From his native Argentina, where faithful held candlelit vigils, to parishes across Africa, Asia, and Europe, people came together in chapels, homes, and digital spaces to offer intercessions for his health.

The Philippine bishops’ conference called for nationwide prayers. In Mexico, pilgrims visited Marian shrines on his behalf. In St. Peter’s Square, crowds of pilgrims gathered daily, reciting rosaries and holding signs that read, “We are praying for you, Papa Francesco.” Social media campaigns using hashtags like #PrayForThePope trended internationally.

Messages poured in not only from Catholics but from religious leaders across denominations and faiths, including Orthodox, Protestant, Muslim, and Jewish communities. 

The Vatican confirmed that thousands of letters and digital messages arrived daily, many expressing both concern and deep affection for the Pope.

These prayers, letters, and public acts of devotion reflected not just concern for the physical wellbeing of a beloved leader—but the deep spiritual bond shared between Pope Francis and the global flock he shepherds.

Now, as he prepares to greet the faithful with a blessing from the hospital window before returning home, Pope Francis carries with him not just renewed strength—but the powerful awareness of a world that lifted him in prayer.