Pope Francis Makes Unannounced Appearance at St. Peter’s Square After Hospitalization

Vatican City: Pope Francis made an unannounced appearance at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, two weeks after being discharged from Gemelli Hospital, where he was treated for pneumonia.
The pope was wheeled to the altar during a special Jubilee Mass dedicated to the sick and healthcare workers. He greeted the crowd with a brief message: “Good Sunday to everyone,” and thanked those present. This was his first public appearance at the Vatican since March 23.
Francis, 88, wore a nasal cannula for breathing support and appeared to be in better condition than during his last public appearance at the hospital. At that time, he had difficulty speaking and moving his arms. On Sunday, his voice was stronger, and he moved his arms with more ease.
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who read the homily on behalf of the pope, included references to the pontiff’s own experience with illness. The message emphasized the challenges of physical weakness and the importance of accepting help. “It is not easy, but it is a school in which we learn every day to love and to let ourselves be loved,” the homily stated.
Francis also called for greater inclusion of the sick and vulnerable, criticizing what he described as a tendency to isolate or exclude them. “Let’s not ostracize pain from our surroundings. Let’s instead make it an opportunity to grow together, to cultivate hope.”
The Vatican said the pope also went to confession earlier that morning inside St. Peter’s Basilica before greeting pilgrims in the square.
The pope was hospitalized on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection, later diagnosed as bilateral pneumonia caused by a polymicrobial infection. According to his doctors, he experienced two critical episodes during his 38-day stay, where his life was at risk.
Doctors have prescribed at least two months of rest, along with physical, respiratory, and speech therapy. He is currently recovering at Casa Santa Marta, his residence inside the Vatican. The Vatican has not announced when he will return to a full schedule, but Sunday’s appearance indicates some improvement in his condition.