Pope Francis makes first public appearance since hospital discharge
Photo: The Pope (Getty Images)
Pope Francis made his first public appearance today since March 23, the day he was discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment for bilateral pneumonia, reports Reuters.
On Sunday, he entered St. Peter's Square in the Vatican in a wheelchair, where he was greeted with applause. This took place shortly before noon (10:00 GMT), at the end of a service dedicated to the Catholic Church's Jubilee Year.
Photo: The Pope addresses the public (screenshot from video)
As he approached the main altar, Francis waved to the crowd and then briefly addressed them.
"Happy Sunday to everyone. Thank you so much," said the Pope in a frail voice while receiving oxygen through a small tube under his nose.
Reuters noted that Francis smiled widely as he greeted the faithful. His voice, though still weak, sounded stronger than during his March 23 appearance, when he struggled to speak.
Reuters added that the 88-year-old Pope had not appeared in public since March 23, when he briefly greeted those present before leaving Rome’s Gemelli hospital after more than five weeks of treatment. This was his most serious health crisis in the 12 years of his pontificate.
Background
Francis typically holds his weekly midday prayer in St. Peter’s Square every Sunday. However, he had not been able to do so since February 9, before his hospitalization.
He was admitted to the hospital on February 14 with bronchitis, which later developed into bilateral pneumonia. This condition was particularly dangerous for the Pope, as he had previously suffered from pleuritis and had part of one lung removed in his youth.
During his 38-day stay in the hospital, Francis was so close to death that his doctors at one point considered halting his treatment to allow him to pass away peacefully, as reported last month by the head of his medical team.
