Pope Francis was discharged from Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Sunday after making his first public appearance in over five weeks. The 88-year-old pontiff, who had been hospitalized with pneumonia in both lungs, smiled and waved to a crowd of well-wishers from a balcony, where he greeted the cheering crowd in a wheelchair.
“Thank you all,” Pope Francis said into a microphone before making the sign of the cross and returning inside. A few minutes later, he was seen waving from the back seat of a car as a convoy left the hospital. On his way back to the Vatican, the Pope made a brief stop to pray at the Papal Basilica before arriving at the Vatican.
Although he did not deliver his usual weekly prayer, the Vatican released a statement prepared by the Pope. In the message, Francis reflected on his hospitalization, expressing gratitude for the care he received from doctors and healthcare workers, as well as the patience he experienced during his recovery.
Pope Francis will now return to Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City, where he will need an additional two months of rest, according to his medical team. His doctors also mentioned that full recovery would take “a lot of time,” given his age and health condition. He had been hospitalized since February 14, marking the longest stay of his papacy. Doctors noted that his life had been in danger on two occasions during his treatment, but he has remained stable for the past two weeks.
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