Pope Francis made his first public appearance since being discharged from hospital on Monday. The pontiff appeared to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. He had previously spent nearly 40 days in hospital being treated for pneumonia.
The Pope went public as part of a Mass for the Jubilee Year of Christianity, dedicated to the sick and health care workers.
The event was conducted by Monsignor Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Department of Evangelisation. The Pontiff appeared in the square at the end of Mass to general applause. He travelled in a wheelchair under a canopy. The Pope addressed the faithful with a short greeting, wishing everyone a good Sunday and thanking those present.
Earlier, Sergio Alfieri, head of the department of surgeons at the Agostino Gemelli Hospital, called Pope Francis’ recovery a miracle, given how hard the pontiff had endured the illness. According to the surgeon, before discharging the pope from the hospital, he strongly advised him not to take up his duties immediately, and a little rest and rehabilitation. The doctor did note, however, that the pontiff is in no danger now.
Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital on February 14 after an attack of bronchitis. He was subsequently diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia. On February 20, the Pope’s clinical condition improved slightly.
