Pope Francis made a surprise public appearance at the Vatican on Sunday, marking his first outing since leaving hospital two weeks ago. The 88-year-old pontiff was seen greeting crowds in St. Peter’s Square, appearing more mobile and composed than during his previous public visit.
Francis had been recovering from pneumonia after spending five weeks in hospital with a severe respiratory infection. His doctors said he came close to death during the illness but has since made significant progress. The pope appeared to be in good spirits, moving his arms around with greater ease than two weeks ago and using a nasal cannula to aid his breathing.
The surprise appearance was not previously announced, but crowds of worshippers gathered at Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square to catch a glimpse of the smiling pontiff. Francis had been discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on March 23 after a 38-day hospital stay. His doctors said he needed to recuperate for at least two months to fully recover from his illness.
The pope’s health crisis has marked the biggest test of his papacy since he was elected in 2013. During his hospital stay, Francis experienced two critical episodes that brought his life to danger. Despite these challenges, he has shown remarkable resilience and determination as he continues to serve the Catholic Church.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/06/europe/pope-francis-health-public-vatican-intl/index.html