Pope out of danger, talk turns to return home

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis was reported to be in good spirits on Tuesday after the Vatican declared he was out of danger and could even be discharged in the near future after almost one month in hospital with pneumonia.

The 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church has been in Rome´s Gemelli hospital since February 14 with pneumonia in both lungs and has suffered several respiratory crises that sparked real fear for his life.

But after a week of steady improvements, the Holy See on Monday evening said his prognosis was no longer considered “reserved”, or uncertain -- meaning his life is no longer at risk. His condition remains complex and he will require hospital treatment for “several more days”, it added -- with the implication that after that, he could go home to the Vatican. A Vatican source on Tuesday denied, however, that preparations were under way for his return to the Santa Marta residence, indicating his discharge was not imminent.