Pope Francis will be discharged from the hospital on Sunday, Vatican says

Pope Francis will be freed from the hospital on Sunday after being treated for double pneumonia for more than a month, according to Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the leader of the pontiff's care team.

“The Holy Father will be discharged from tomorrow in stable clinical condition with a prescription to partially continue drug therapy and a convalescence and rest period of at least two months,” Alfieri told reporters at a news conference at Gemelli on Saturday.

“Today we are happy to say that tomorrow he will be at home,” he added.

On Sunday, at 12 p.m. local time (7 a.m. ET), the pope will appear from the hospital's window to greet and bless the people before leaving, according to the Vatican.

Francis will provide a blessing and welcome to supporters at the conclusion of Sunday's Angelus prayer, the Vatican press office announced early Saturday. Francis generally leads the prayer and provides a reflection every week, but he has not done so for the last five Sundays.

"The pope is getting better so that in brief time he can resume his normal activities. He has always continued to work but we recommend that he takes the adequate time to rest and convalescence. So he cant meet large groups of people," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

The pope's voice will take some time to return to normal while he recovers, Bruni added.

"When you have a bilateral pneumonia ... and your lungs have been damaged, … muscles affected ... one of the first thing that happens is you lose your voice and like for all patients, young and old … it will take some time for his voice to return to normal.  We have already seen important improvements," Bruni said.

For weeks, Catholics all over the globe have been praying for his health, and since February 25, cardinals have led a weekly rosary prayer in St. Peter's Square, which draws hundreds of faithful every night.

Pope Francis was brought to the hospital on February 14 with bronchitis, which progressed to pneumonia in both lungs, exacerbated by a microbiota tract infection. Doctors did not mince words when they held a news conference at the Gemelli hospital on Feb. 21, saying that he was "not out of danger" due to his age and chronic pulmonary condition.

Francis remained in critical condition for several weeks, suffering from an asthmatic respiratory crisis, minor renal failure, and a bronchial spasm that allowed him to inhale his own vomit after coughing. He employed noninvasive mechanical ventilation at night and high-flow oxygen treatment throughout the day.

On March 10, the Vatican reported that Pope Francis had recovered sufficiently to no longer be regarded in urgent danger of pneumonia and other illnesses, but that he would still require further days of inpatient care. He began gradually reducing his utilization of oxygen treatment.

The pope's illness marks his longest stay at Gemelli since his election 12 years ago. While he hasn't been seen in weeks, his presence has been felt, with the Vatican releasing a short audio message from the pope and a photo of him praying at the hospital's chapel last weekend.

The pope will spend two months resting at his Vatican home, according to a Vatican official.

Pope Francis will have to continue his physiotherapy from home.