Vatican City: Pope Francis is set to return to his residence in the Vatican on Sunday after doctors determined it would be the best place for his recovery following a five-week hospitalisation for pneumonia.

The 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church was "very happy" to hear that his health had improved enough for him to leave the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, one of his doctors, Sergio Alfieri, said on Saturday. However, Alfieri cautioned that the Pope still faced a recovery period of "at least two months."

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Discharge and first public appearance in weeks

Pope Francis was expected to be discharged from the hospital in the early afternoon. Before his departure, he was scheduled to make a blessing and wave at well-wishers outside the hospital, just after midday (1100 GMT), marking his first public appearance since February 14.

His hospitalisation since that date has been the longest of his papacy and the fourth since his election in 2013. The increasing fragility of his health has led to speculation about whether he might choose to step down, as his predecessor, Benedict XVI, had done.

Doctors confirm health improvement

The Pope's doctors, speaking at the Gemelli Hospital on Saturday, said Francis was recovering well. The Vatican announced on Wednesday that he was now breathing without the aid of an oxygen mask.

Alfieri stated, "Further progress will take place at his home because a hospital -- even if this seems strange -- is the worst place to recover because it's where one can contract more infections."

"The Pope will leave and return to Saint Martha's House," Alfieri confirmed, referring to Francis's residence within the Vatican.

Limited engagements during recovery

Alfieri dismissed the possibility of Pope Francis immediately resuming his regular duties, explaining, "Convalescence, by definition, is a period of rest. So it is clear that during the convalescence period, he will not be able to take on his usual daily appointments."

This raises questions about who will lead the upcoming religious events in the weeks leading up to Easter, the holiest period in the Christian calendar. The Pope has missed the Angelus prayers, typically recited by the pontiff every Sunday, for five consecutive weeks.

No plans for resignation

Amid speculation regarding a possible resignation, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin firmly denied such claims, stating, "No, no, no, absolutely not."

Catholics and others around the world have been praying for Pope Francis’s swift recovery. Many have left flowers, candles, and notes for him outside the Gemelli Hospital.

Critical health moments during hospitalisation

At the most alarming stage of his hospitalisation, Pope Francis spent several weeks on assisted breathing, using nasal tubes and an oxygen mask. His doctors revealed that he had endured "very critical" moments where his life was at risk, though he remained conscious throughout.

He was only declared out of danger after a month of treatment at the Gemelli Hospital.

Long road to full recovery

Due to the severity of his pneumonia, Pope Francis will require physical rehabilitation to regain the full use of his voice. Alfieri explained, "When you suffer bilateral pneumonia, your lungs are damaged, and your respiratory muscles are also strained. It takes time for the voice to get back to normal."

Despite not making a public appearance since February 14, the Vatican released a photograph on March 16 showing the Pope praying in a chapel within his hospital room. Additionally, on March 6, an audio recording of the Pope was published, in which he spoke in a weak voice and thanked the faithful for their prayers.

AFP