Pope Francis spent a peaceful second night in hospital for treatment of bronchitis, a Vatican source said Friday, as a senior cardinal said the 86-year-old could be discharged as soon as Saturday.
Doctors late Thursday reported a “marked improvement” in the condition of the pontiff, who was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Wednesday, and said he could be 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 begins with this weekend’s Palm Sunday celebrations.
The Vatican did not respond to requests for confirmation. A source earlier said that he had passed the night “peacefully”.
The pope’s admission to the 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 the 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.
But he has been forced to use a wheelchair and walking stick in the past year because of knee pain and admitted last summer that he had to slow down.
Punch/ Adebukola Aluko
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