Pope Francis is expected to be discharged from the Rome hospital on Saturday where he is being treated for bronchitis, the Vatican said.
Spokesman Matteo Bruni said the Francis's recovery has been normal and he ate a pizza for dinner on Thursday.
Francis, 86, was admitted to Gemelli Polyclinic, where doctors said on Wednesday that the pontiff was receiving intravenously antibiotics to treat his bronchitis.
The hospital admission came four days before Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week.
Francis had stopped celebrating Mass at major Catholic Church holy days because of a chronic knee problem, but continued to preside at the ceremonies and deliver homilies.
Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said on Friday that Francis may be able to preside over but not celebrate Holy Week ceremonies.
On the basis of the information I have, he ll leave Gemelli tomorrow, so he ll be able to preside over all the Holy Week rituals, Italian news agency Adnkronos quoted the cardinal as saying.
It is not known if Francis will be able to preside over or attend Holy Week observances, even when he is back in the Vatican.
They include a stamina-taxing late night Way of the Cross procession, marked by prayers on Good Friday at the Colosseum in Rome and Easter Mass on April 9, which is traditionally followed by a long papal speech delivered from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica.
During Wednesday's hour-long public audience, Francis appeared visibly in pain when he moved around and was helped by aides.