Pope Francis made his first public appearance in over five weeks on Sunday, blessing a crowd gathered at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. The 88-year-old Catholic Church leader, who has been hospitalized since February 14 due to a severe respiratory infection, waved from a balcony and delivered a thumbs-up signal to the crowd. Thanking the crowd through a microphone, his frail voice could be heard as he sat in a wheelchair. Shouts of “Viva il papa!” and “Papa Francesco” erupted from the spectators.

After greeting the crowd, Francis was discharged from the hospital. Later, he was seen waving from the window of a car while wearing an oxygen device. Before returning to the Vatican, he visited St. Mary Major basilica to pray.

According to his doctors, Francis will need at least two months of rest after battling a severe lung infection. At one point, he was in critical condition due to double pneumonia. Additionally, he has a history of chronic lung disease and had a portion of one lung removed in his youth.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/pope-francis-out-of-hospital-after-life-threatening-illness/a-72010412?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf