Pope arrives home at Vatican after 5-week hospital stay to beat life-threatening bout of pneumonia

Since it's a convalescence, it's difficult to make predictions. Let's hope" he will be able to go

the pope's doctor Luigi Carbone said at a press conference on Saturday

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the Square. I accompany you from here,

the pope said in a 30-second message on March 6.

For three or four days he’s been asking when he can go home, so he’s very happy,

Carbone said

I see this woman with the yellow flowers. Brava!”

a tired and bloated-looking Francis said

But one morning we went to listen to his lungs and we asked him how he was doing. When he replied, ‘I’m still alive,’ we knew he was OK and had gotten his good humor back,

he said

It was just a wonderful opportunity to see him and I think he responded so much to the people's prayers and to all of the chanting,

he said at the Gemelli

Further progress will take place at his home, because a hospital -- even if this seems strange -- is the worst place to recover because it's where you can contract more infections,

one of his doctors, Sergio Alfieri, told reporters on Saturday

When you suffer bilateral pneumonia, your lungs are damaged and your respiratory muscles are also strained,

Alfieri said

Pietro Parolincardinal

No, no, no. Absolutely not."

Asked by reporters on Monday about speculation the Pope could resign, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin replied

During the convalescence period he will not be able to take on his usual daily appointments,

he said

I am really happy to have seen him... I am in really love with Pope Francis,

he said

I call for an immediate halt to the weapons; and for the courage to resume dialogue, so that all hostages may be released and a final ceasefire reached,

he wrote

Unfortunately yes, there was a moment when many were saying that he might not make it. And it was painful for us,

said Mario Balsamo, the owner of coffee shop in front of Gemelli

Today I feel a great joy,

said Dr. Rossella Russomando, a doctor from Salerno who didn't treat Francis but was at Gemelli on Sunday

St Paul said when I am weak, then I am strong: he meant that embracing his own limits created space for God to act,

Ivereigh said

Certainly, this new post-hospitalization phase will be a novel stage of his papacy,

said Massimo Faggioli, a Catholic theologian at Villanova University

During this long period of recovery, I have had the opportunity to experience the Lord’s patience,

Francis said in a written Angelus text distributed by the Vatican Sunday

This trusting patience, anchored in God’s never-failing love, is truly necessary in our lives, especially when facing the most difficult and painful situations,

he added

The hope is that he will soon be able to resume a work schedule,

Alfieri said

Our pope is coming back,

one of the pilgrims told Rai news