Pope Francis’s condition has improved enough that he will be discharged from a hospital in Rome on Sunday and sent to recover in the Vatican for at least two months, his doctors said on Saturday evening.

They added that the case of pneumonia in both lungs was so severe that it had twice put his life in grave danger.

The doctors said that the pope’s condition had improved and been stable for the last two weeks, and that he had overcome his most dangerous infections, but that he wasn’t completely healed and needed to rest for at least two months.

He would require therapy and oxygen, as is normal for patients recovering from pneumonia, before he could resume his regular schedule, and his doctors urged that the pope stay away from crowds, people who had children, other possible Reposources of infection.

“He was very happy,” said Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the leader of the medical team taking care of the pope. He said the pontiff had been asking for days when he could go back home.

For weeks Catholics around the world have been praying for his recovery, and since Feb. 25, cardinals have led a nightly rosary prayer in St. Peter’s Square that draws hundreds of faithful each night.