Rome - Pope Francis (88) will return to the Vatican on Sunday after more than five weeks in hospital.

The 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church has been treated for complicated bilateral pneumonia at the Gemelli Clinic in Rome since February 14, and his life was temporarily in danger.

Before returning to his residence in the Vatican, the Casa Santa Marta, Francis will make his first public appearance in more than a month.

The Vatican announced that the Pope would step up to a window of the hospital for the traditional Angelus prayer for a greeting and blessing. He will then be taken back to the Vatican, according to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni.

As in previous weeks, Francis will not lead the Angelus prayer itself. The Pope normally holds the Angelus prayer on Sundays at midday in St. Peter's Square in front of tens of thousands of faithful.

Since his hospitalization in mid-February, however, Francis has been unable to do so. The Sunday prayer has since been published in writing.