Pope Francis spent a peaceful second night in hospital on Friday for treatment of bronchitis, according to a Vatican source, and a senior cardinal said the 86-year-old could be discharged as soon as Saturday.
Doctors said late Thursday that the pontiff’s condition had “markedly improved” since he was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Wednesday, and that he could return home “in the coming days.”
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, told the Adnkronos news agency Friday that “based on the information I have, the pope will leave Gemelli tomorrow”.
He expressed hope that Francis would be able to preside over services for Holy Week and Easter, Christianity’s most important holiday, which begin with this weekend’s Palm Sunday celebrations.
The pope’s admission to hospital, just weeks after he marked 10 years as head of the worldwide Catholic Church, has sparked widespread concern while also fuelling speculation about his future.
The Argentine, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has suffered increasing health issues in recent years, and it was his second stay in hospital since 2021.
He has repeatedly said he would consider stepping down if his health failed him, following the example of his predecessor Benedict XVI — but said in February that for now, he had no plans to quit.