Pope Francis ‘very lively’ as he continues recovery, doctor says

Pope Francis (Domenico Stinellis/AP)

Pope Francis has shown “a truly surprising improvement” since returning to the Vatican to convalesce after surviving a life-threatening bout with double-pneumonia, the doctor who coordinated the pontiff’s five-week hospital stay said.

“I find him very lively,” Dr Sergio Alfieri said on Saturday, after visiting the pope at his apartment in the Santa Marta Domus on Wednesday, three days after his release from Rome’s Gemelli hospital.