Pope Francis was discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Sunday after more than five weeks of treatment for pneumonia. Before leaving, he appeared on a hospital balcony, waving to the gathered crowd and expressing his gratitude for their support.
Looking fatigued, the pontiff sat in a wheelchair, softly waving to the hundreds who had assembled below. This marked his first public appearance since February 14, when he was admitted with breathing difficulties that developed into pneumonia.
"Thank you, everyone," he said into a microphone, his voice weak. He offered a gentle thumbs-up and acknowledged a well-wisher in the crowd, saying with a small smile, "I can see that woman with yellow flowers, well done," prompting laughter.
After spending two minutes on the balcony, Francis was discharged and left the hospital by car. He waved through the closed window as he passed journalists, his oxygen cannula still visible.
Before returning to the Vatican, he stopped at Santa Maria Maggiore, his favorite church in Rome, where he prayed, as he traditionally does before and after trips.
A Long Road to Recovery
Doctors confirmed that Francis' condition had improved enough for him to go home but warned that his recovery would take at least two months. Having had part of one lung removed in his youth, the pope also lost weight during his hospital stay.
His prolonged hospitalization raised questions about whether he might consider stepping down, as his predecessor Benedict XVI had done. However, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin dismissed such speculation, stating, "No, no, no. Absolutely not."
During his hospital stay, Francis endured repeated respiratory crises, leading doctors to perform bronchoscopies to clear his lungs and administer a blood transfusion.
"Further progress will take place at his home, because a hospital— even if this seems strange—is the worst place to recover because it's where you can contract more infections," said Dr. Sergio Alfieri, one of his physicians.
Alfieri emphasized that Francis would not be able to resume his full schedule anytime soon. "Convalescence, by definition, is a period of rest. So it is clear that during the convalescence period he will not be able to take on his usual daily appointments."
Uncertainty Over Easter Celebrations
The pope's continued absence raises questions about who will lead the religious events leading up to Easter, the most sacred period in the Christian calendar. He has already missed the Angelus prayers for five consecutive weeks.
Well-wishers have left flowers, candles, and notes outside the hospital, praying for his recovery. His doctors revealed that he faced two "very critical" moments where his life was in danger, though he remained conscious throughout. He was only declared out of danger after a month of treatment.
Due to the pneumonia, Francis will require physiotherapy to regain his full voice. "When you suffer bilateral pneumonia, your lungs are damaged, and your respiratory muscles are also strained," Alfieri explained. "It takes time for the voice to get back to normal."
Although Francis has not made a public appearance since February 14, the Vatican released a photo on March 16 showing him praying in a hospital chapel. Earlier, on March 6, an audio recording captured him thanking the faithful for their prayers, hiso voice still weak but resolute.