Pope Francis reappears in public at the Vatican

(CLO) Pope Francis reappeared in public as he sat in a wheelchair and entered St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, greeting a crowd of cheering believers.

The 88-year-old pope has not been seen in public since March 23, when he left Rome's Gemelli hospital after more than five weeks of treatment – the most serious health episode of his 12-year reign.

The pope made a surprise appearance in the square just before noon, just as the Catholic Church's Jubilee celebrations were ending. Pope Francis waved to the crowd and made a brief speech. "I wish you all a happy Sunday," he said in a weak voice, breathing oxygen through a small tube under his nose. "Thank you very much."

Pope Francis makes his first appearance in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, April 6, 2025. (Photo: Remo Casilli)

The Pope normally leads the weekly Sunday midday prayer service in St. Peter's Square, but he has been absent since February 9, before he was admitted to hospital.

Pope Francis was admitted to hospital on February 14 with bronchitis, which later developed into double pneumonia – a particularly dangerous condition because he had pleurisy and had part of a lung removed as a young man.

During his 38-day hospital stay, Pope Francis' health was so weak that doctors considered stopping treatment so he could die peacefully, the Vatican's chief medical officer said last month.

Ha Trang (according to Vatican, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/giao-hoang-francis-xuat-hien-tro-lai-truoc-cong-chung-tai-vatican-post341702.html