In an interview, the leader of Pope Francis’s medical team called it “a miracle” that the 88-year-old pontiff left the hospital, but said he needs to change his vigorous habits, at least for a while,

The head of Pope Francis' medical team says there was a crisis during the pontiff's battle with pneumonia so dire, they considered "whether to stop and let him go."

The medical staff looking after Pope Francis considered stopping his treatment so he could die, according to the lead doctor, while the 88-year-old pontiff was hospitalized with a drawn-out respiratory illness.