Pope Francis appeared this morning at his hospital balcony before he was fired after an extraordinary five -week battle with double pneumonia.
The pope was admitted to the Gemelli hospital in Rome on February 14 after he had sustained a serious respiratory crisis in the Vatican.
He was later diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs and would be in 'critical condition' several times when millions around the world pray for his good health.
But on Sunday the 88-year-old was finally fired, while hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital and Vatican to catch a glimpse of Francis in what his first public appearance has become in five weeks.
The leader of the Catholic Church spoke from a wheelchair on the papal suite on the 10th floor and just said: 'Thanks, everyone. I see a woman with some yellow flowers. How good! 'Before you say goodbye to hospital staff who gave himself out of him since he fell ill.
Francis seemed to make the sign from the cross to the roaring crowd before he was brought back to his room.
A white Fiat then arrived outside the hospital to transport the pope back to the Vatican where he will start his recovery.
Doctors revealed yesterday that he needs for at least two months for this, but after ending the serious illness.
Pope Franciscus appears in a window of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, Sunday 23 March 2025
People look at Pope Francis who appears from a window of the Gemelli Hospital during his first public appearance in five weeks, on a large screen on St. Peter's Square, on the Vatican, March 23, 2025
The Pope first appeared in public in five weeks when crowds met to see the moment
The leader of the Catholic Church spoke from a wheelchair on the papal suite on the 10th floor and just said: 'Thanks, everyone. I see a woman with some yellow flowers. How good! '
Pope Francis gestures as he appears in a window of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome
The pope thanked everyone from his balcony before being returned to his room
People are outside the Agostino Gemelli Hospital, where Pope Francis was admitted to the hospital, in Rome, Italy, March 23, 2025
The pope spent five weeks with repairing a breathing crisis in the Gemelli hospital of Rome
On the day of the first public performance of Pope Franciscus, people walk from a window of the Gemelli Hospital, in the Vatican, March 23, 2025
During his first public appearance in five weeks, Pope Francis speaks from the Gemelli Hospital, in Rome, Italy, March 23, 2025
The personal doctor of Francis, Luigi Carbone, said: “He has been asking for three or four days when he can go home, so he is very happy,” according to France24.
Yesterday morning the Vatican announced that Francis would greet around the Gemelli hospital today with a wave around noon today.
“Pope Francis is planning to wave and offer a blessing of the Agostino Gemelli hospital in Rome after praying Angelus,” said the Vatican.
After his resignation, the Pope is said to have to 'learn to speak again' after using oxygen during his stay in the hospital.
“The pope is doing very well, but high-flow oxygen dries out everything,” said Cardinal Victor Fernandez, the main official of the Vatican.
“He has to learn to talk, but his overall physical condition is like before.”
Close advisors from the Pontiff said that he was in 'good humor' and 'good recovery' on Friday evening, nevertheless, in which Cardinal Pietro Parolin admits that the Pope needs 'some time' to fully recover.
Earlier this week, the first photo of the Argentinian pope was released since his hospitalization of Valentine's Day.
The photo showed the pope who celebrated the Holy Mass in the chapel of the apartment of the tenth floor in Rome, where he was treated.
A statement from the Vatican said: “This morning [16 March] Pope Francis brought the Holy Mass together in the chapel of the apartment on the 10th floor of the Policlinico Gemelli. '
The no later than noon was not the first greeting of the Pope for the public from the Gemelli Hospital.
The pope saw the hospital leaving in a white Fiat after he had publicly spoke while he waved to spectators
People look at Pope Francis appear from a window of the Gemelli hospital during his first public appearance in five weeks
Pope Franciscus was fired from the hospital after a long battle with double pneumonia in Rome
Men are seen on the phone behind the windows of the Gemelli hospital where Pope Franciscus made his first public appearance before he was dismissed from the hospital because he was admitted to hospital for five weeks, in Rome on March 23, 2025
Doctor Sergio Alferi (photo), who treated the Pope, announced yesterday that Francis will be dismissed from the hospital
On Saturday it was announced that Francis will greet benefactors with a wave on Sunday at 12.00 pm
The first photo of the pope since his hospitalization of 14 February was released earlier this week
Millions around the world have prayed for the good health of Pope Francis in the midst of a health struggle that saw him in 'critical condition'
A woman is seen earlier this month in prayer in Vatican City. Pope Franciscus has been admitted to the hospital since February 14, when he was admitted to the Gemelli hospital of Rome
In July 2021 he recited the Angelus prayer of a balcony on the 10th floor of the medical institution after colon operation.
But he has never been admitted to the hospital for so long during his papacy, and although his return will be greeted with relief by followers, there will continue to be a question of who can lead the busy schedule of religious events that leads prior to Easter, a highlight of the Christian calendar.
The Vatican press office said on Wednesday that no clear decisions had yet been made in that respect, and added that the clinical state of the Pope 'improved' and that he no longer used an oxygen mask.
A daily bulletin about the pope's health was published by the Vatican during his fight in the hospital.
Francis had removed part of one lung as a young man and, despite his improvement, speculation is abundant that he could resign because of his vulnerability, in the footsteps of his predecessor Benedict XVI.
On Monday, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the second rank of the Vatican, told reporters that he had noticed an improvement in Francis's health during a visit.
But asked if the conversation had settled for the pope's resignation, he replied, “No, no, no, absolutely not.”
Catholics and others worldwide have prayed for the rapid recovery of the pope, leaving many flowers, candles and notes for him outside the Gemelli hospital.
A number of leading cardinals also kept prayer services in the Vatican to pray for the good health of the Pontiff, with thousands of gathering daily to recite the rosary.
Even when he stayed in the hospital, the Pope expressed his gratitude for the widespread support he has received.
The pope also kept almost nocturnal phone calls with Palestinian Catholics in Gaza in the midst of the current conflict in the middle.
In updates about X posted during his stay in the hospital, the 88-year-old also wanted his best to Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and Kivu in early March.
