INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Pope Francis, who has been battling pneumonia for more than five weeks, will be discharged from hospital on Sunday but will need a further
February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that became the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy.They said they had
prescribed the pope two months of repose, and had advised him against taking any meetings with large groups, or that require special
medical team, told the press conference.Francis, who was fighting double pneumonia, suffered four acute attacks of what the Vatican called
said the doctor.Alfieri emphasized that while Francis had used non-invasive ventilation through a mask over his mouth and nose to help
breathe, the pope had never been intubated during his stay in hospital.One senior cardinal had said on Friday that the pope would need to
said Alfieri.The doctor said the pope, who had gained some weight in recent years after using a wheelchair for knee and back pain, has now
Vatican residence.The Vatican said earlier on Saturday that Francis would make his first public appearance in more than five weeks on
Sunday, to offer a blessing from the window of his hospital room before being discharged.The pope has been seen by the public only once
during his hospital stay, in a photo the Vatican released last week, showing the pontiff at prayer in a hospital chapel.Francis wants to
come to the hospital window around noon on Sunday to give a greeting and blessing, the Vatican said in its brief statement earlier on
said on Saturday that the Vatican would decide about those appointments at a later date.Source: Reuters--Agencies
