Pope Francis made his first public appearance in over five weeks on Sunday, greeting well-wishers from a balcony at Rome’s Gemelli hospital before being discharged. The 88-year-old pontiff, who had been receiving treatment for a severe respiratory infection, appeared on the hospital’s tenth-floor balcony in a wheelchair, smiling and waving at the crowd below.
Despite his visibly weakened state, Francis expressed gratitude to the faithful gathered to see him. “Thank you, everyone,” he said, his voice raspy from illness. Noticing a well-wisher holding a bouquet, he added, “The woman with the yellow flowers, well done.”
Shortly before his appearance, the Vatican released the Pope’s Angelus address, in which he called for a ceasefire in Gaza and welcomed diplomatic progress between Azerbaijan and Armenia. After greeting the crowd, he returned to his hospital room and was discharged about 30 minutes later.
A Serious Health Crisis
The Pope was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14, marking the most significant health crisis of his 12-year papacy. Although doctors have permitted him to return to the Vatican, they have prescribed an additional two months of rest to allow for a full recovery.
His health condition raises questions about his ability to lead upcoming religious celebrations, particularly the Easter ceremonies and a planned visit to Turkey in May for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. However, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni reassured the public, stating, “His work was not interrupted during his stay in the hospital, and it will be the same when he returns to Santa Marta.”
Public and Vatican Reactions
Before Sunday’s appearance, Francis had been seen only once in a Vatican-released photo showing him praying in a hospital chapel. His emergence from the hospital prompted cheers from the crowd gathered outside, many of whom chanted, “Francis, Francis, Francis!”
The Pope’s health remains a concern, with doctors emphasizing the need for extended rest. Nonetheless, his ability to address the public and continue his work signals resilience despite the challenges posed by age and illness.
