Pope Francis is expected to be discharged from hospital on Saturday after he was admitted with a chest infection.
The 86-year-old pontiff was hospitalised in Rome on Wednesday suffering from bronchitis, and doctors said he was being treated with intravenous antibiotics
The Vatican has now confirmed Francis is recovering in a “normal” way, even had pizza for dinner and will be back on his feet in time for Palm Sunday Mass in St Peter’s Square.
The Mass, which marks the start of Holy Week and ushers in a series of solemn public ceremonies that culminate on Easter on April 9.
Francis was hospitalised on Wednesday at Gemelli Polyclinic, in Rome.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a written statement on Friday: “Yesterday went well, with a normal clinical recovery,” Mr Bruni said.
“In the evening [of Thursday], Pope Francis had dinner, eating a pizza, together with all those who are assisting him in these days of the hospital stay,” the spokesman said.
On Friday morning, the pope read newspapers and resumed his work after breakfast.
The pontiff’s return to the Vatican hotel where he lives “is expected for tomorrow, as a result of the last tests of this morning,” Mr Bruni said.
The spokesman later added that, given the pope was expected to return to the Vatican on Saturday, Francis was expected to be present in the square for Palm Sunday Mass. He didn’t indicate whether Francis would deliver a homily during the ceremony, a particularly long service.
Medical staff decided to hospitalise Francis on Wednesday after he returned to his Vatican residence following his customary weekly public audience in St Peter’s Square. The Vatican reported he had experienced difficult breathing in the previous days.
Mr Bruni on Thursday evening said that antibiotic treatment for bronchitis had resulted in a “marked” improvement in his health.The hospitalisation came four days before Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week.
Francis had already largely stopped celebrating Mass at major Catholic Church holy days because of a chronic knee problem, but had continued to preside at the ceremonies and deliver homilies.
Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said on Friday that Francis would be able to preside over — but not celebrate — Holy Week ceremonies.
The Holy Week appointments include a stamina-taxing late night Way of the Cross procession marked by prayers on Good Friday at the Colosseum in Rome and Easter Mass on April 9, which is traditionally followed by a long papal speech delivered from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.
During Wednesday’s hour-long public audience, Francis at times appeared visibly in pain when he moved about and was helped by aides.
