Pope appears in public for first time in nearly 40 days after illness
Pope Francis (Photo: ERA/ETTORE FERRARI)
Pope Francis has made his initial public appearance from the balcony of the Agostino Gemelli hospital, where he has been receiving treatment for several weeks. Crowds of people congregated in front of the hospital to catch a glimpse of the pontiff, as reported by Corriere della Sera.
The balcony from which Francis emerged is situated on the fifth floor of the hospital. Below, individuals gathered with drawings and flowers, clasping their hands in prayer. Upon coming out to the faithful, the pontiff offered them his blessing.
In the prayer text that the pope shared with the media beforehand, he expressed gratitude to the faithful for their patience and steadfastness in praying for him. He also urged for prayers for peace, “especially in the long-suffering Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
Following his address, Francis departed from the hospital in his white Fiat 500, accompanied by vehicles from the Vatican Gendarmerie and Italian police. The faithful continued to greet him as they gathered along the route.
- On February 19, it was revealed that the Pope had been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia. On February 22, Francis’ condition was deemed critical.
- After the full-scale Russian invasion, the Pope became “notable” for his controversial remarks regarding the conflict: specifically, he referred to Ukrainians and Russians as “cousins” who “should coexist peacefully.” He also criticized the prohibition on the Moscow Patriarchate.
- On March 22, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez stated that the Pope needs to “relearn how to speak” following an extended period of oxygen therapy.
