Pope Francis made a surprise appearance on Sunday, greeting worshippers in St. Peter’s Square just two weeks after being discharged from hospital for a severe bout of pneumonia.
The 88-year-old pontiff, visibly frail and attached to nasal breathing tubes, was seen smiling and waving as he was wheeled through the crowd following a Mass dedicated to the sick. “A good Sunday to all. Thank you very much,” he told the crowd in a faint but clearer voice compared to when he left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on March 23.
It was the pope’s first public appearance since February 14, defying a medical recommendation for two months of strict convalescence, including limited exposure to crowds and no public engagements.
Despite the risks, Pope Francis appeared eager to connect with the faithful, offering blessings under the spring sun as thousands gathered in the square. The Vatican had earlier stated that the pope’s recovery was to be closely managed, with no contact with groups due to his vulnerability to infection.
“He’s doing better, that’s clear, and he wants that to be seen,” a Vatican source told AFP anonymously. “He’s not yet well enough to deliver a message, but well enough to make a gesture… and show up.”
A few minutes prior to his appearance, the Holy Father received the sacrament in St. Peter’s Basilica, according to a Vatican statement. While he did not deliver the customary Angelus prayer aloud, the message was released in written form.
In his message, Pope Francis expressed solidarity with healthcare workers, offering prayers for those “not always helped to work in adequate conditions” and who at times become victims of violence. “Their mission is not easy and must be supported and respected,” he wrote.
The pontiff also renewed his calls for peace in conflict zones around the world, specifically naming Ukraine, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, and Haiti. He expressed particular concern for Gaza, describing the humanitarian situation there as “unimaginable,” and urged an end to hostilities and the release of hostages held by Hamas since October 7, 2023.
Francis, who had part of a lung removed in his youth, has faced a series of health challenges in recent years. During his recent hospital stay—the most serious of his 12-year papacy—doctors revealed he came close to death on two occasions.
Since returning to the Vatican, the pope has remained under constant medical supervision, limiting visitors to only his closest aides. However, the Holy See confirmed he has resumed essential duties, including reviewing and signing official documents.
The extent of Pope Francis’s participation in the upcoming Holy Week and Easter celebrations remains uncertain, with Vatican officials yet to confirm whether he will preside over the liturgies of the Christian calendar’s holiest season.
