Pope Francis to be discharged from hospital tomorrow

Pope Francis is to be released from hospital tomorrow after receiving treatment for double pneumonia, but doctors insist he will also need at least two months of rest.

The 88-year-old pontiff has been at Gemelli Hospital in Rome since 14 February for a severe respiratory infection.

Dr Sergio Alfieri, the head of the team taking care of the Pope, told reporters: "Tomorrow the Holy Father will be discharged, that means he will return to the Santa Marta [his residence within the Vatican]".

"During his hospitalisation, his clinical conditions presented very critical episodes, during which the Holy Father was in danger of losing his life."

Dr Alfieri said the pontiff was now in a "stable clinical condition" but he would continue taking medication orally "for quite a long time".

"It's very important that he follow a period of convalescence and rest for at least two months," he added.

The Vatican previously said he would appear from the window of his hospital room on Sunday to offer a blessing.

A photo released by the Vatican last week showed the leader of the Catholic church celebrating Sunday mass in a hospital chapel.

He is seen wearing a purple stole while sitting in a wheelchair in front of an altar.

The Vatican said in a statement that Pope Francis wanted to come to the hospital window around noon (11am UK time) on Sunday to give a greeting and blessing.

One senior cardinal said on Friday it could take time for the Pope to "relearn to speak" after using oxygen during his hospital stay.

"The pope is doing very well, but high-flow oxygen dries everything out," said Cardinal Victor Fernandez, the Vatican's chief doctrine official.

"He needs to relearn how to speak, but his overall physical condition is as it was before."

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The pope usually offers a weekly noon-time prayer in St Peter's Square on Sundays but he has not been able to do this since 9 February.

Doctors at the facility recently said he is no longer in a critical condition - having been admitted with bronchitis and later diagnosed with double pneumonia and a polymicrobial infection.

It marks the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy and the longest he has been out of public view since his election as pontiff in 2013.

The latest updates from the Vatican about his medical condition have been cautiously upbeat.

On Friday, the Vatican said Francis had been reducing his use of high-flow oxygen to help him breathe.

There are plans for the Pope to meet the King and Queen, who are making a state visit on 8 April.