Pope Francis was released from the hospital on Sunday after spending more than five weeks receiving treatment for pneumonia.
He waved to cheering crowds and expressed gratitude for their support.
Appearing frail, the pope sat in a wheelchair on one of the hospital balconies, greeting hundreds of well-wishers who had gathered to see him.
This marked his first public appearance since February 14, when he was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital due to breathing difficulties and a respiratory illness that later developed into pneumonia.
“Thank you, everyone,” Francis said in a weak voice into a microphone, waving gently to the crowd. Occasionally, he lifted a hand to wave in the air or gave a thumbs-up gesture.
Noticing a particular individual in the crowd, he remarked with a small smile, “I can see that woman with yellow flowers, well done,” drawing laughter from the gathering.
The pope remained on the balcony for about two minutes before being discharged. He left the hospital in a car, waving from the closed window as he passed by journalists.
Observers noted that he was wearing a cannula, a plastic tube in his nostrils delivering oxygen.
Bishop Larry James Kulick from Pennsylvania, USA, shared his thoughts with AFP: “Seeing Francis just filled me and I think many of the people who are here with a great sense of joy. It was just a wonderful opportunity to see him, and I think he responded so much to the people’s prayers and to all of the chanting. I hope it lifted his spirits—I think it did.”
Similarly, Domenico Papisca Marra, a 69-year-old Catholic from Reggio Calabria in southern Italy, said he rushed to the hospital upon hearing that Francis would be making an appearance.
“I am really happy to have seen him… I am really in love with Pope Francis,” he said.
After leaving the hospital in a white Fiat 500 L, Francis was driven past the Vatican to Santa Maria Maggiore, a church in Rome where he traditionally prays before and after trips.
He was later seen arriving back at the Vatican.
This was the fourth and longest hospital stay for the pope since his election in 2013.
Having had part of one lung removed as a young man, Francis lost weight during his hospitalization and now faces a recovery period of at least two months.
His prolonged illness has fueled speculation about whether he might consider stepping down, similar to his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
During his hospital stay, Francis experienced repeated respiratory crises, requiring bronchoscopies to clear his lungs and a blood transfusion.
The seriousness of his condition was highlighted when, on March 6, an audio recording was released in which the pope’s voice sounded weak and breathless as he thanked those praying for him.
Although he managed to carry out some work from the hospital, doctors have advised him against engaging in public interactions too soon.
“Further progress will take place at his home, because a hospital—even if this seems strange—is the worst place to recover since it’s where you can contract more infections,” said Dr. Sergio Alfieri on Saturday.
Alfieri added, “During the convalescence period, he will not be able to take on his usual daily appointments.”
The restrictions may prove challenging for Francis, who has always maintained a busy schedule and enjoys close interaction with his followers.
There are also questions about who will preside over the religious events leading up to Easter, the most significant period in the Christian calendar.
However, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin dismissed any speculation about the pope resigning, stating, “No, no, no. Absolutely not.”
At the most critical stages of his illness, Francis spent several weeks on assisted breathing, using nasal tubes and an oxygen mask.
His doctors revealed that he faced two “very critical” moments where his life was at risk, though he remained conscious.
He was only declared out of danger after a full month of treatment at Gemelli Hospital.
Due to the pneumonia, Francis will need physiotherapy to regain full use of his voice. “When you suffer bilateral pneumonia, your lungs are damaged, and your respiratory muscles are also strained,” Dr. Alfieri explained.
“It takes time for the voice to get back to normal.”
