“With a Blessing and a Smile, Pope Francis Returns to Public View After Month-Long Hospital Stay”

The 87-year-old pontiff appeared at the hospital balcony to greet and bless crowds, signaling resilience and a commitment to continue leading the Catholic Church through reforms.

Vatican City, March 23: Pope Francis made his first public appearance on Sunday after being hospitalized for over a month. The 87-year-old Pontiff, who had been admitted on February 14 due to double pneumonia, appeared on the balcony of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to bless the faithful before returning to his residence at Casa Santa Marta.

Cheered by an emotional crowd, Pope Francis addressed them with a heartfelt message and offered his blessings, marking a powerful moment of recovery and resilience. His appearance was shared widely on social media. Catholic Arena posted a video on X, captioned: “Pope Francis has made his first public appearance in over a month. He blessed the crowd and spoke to them. He now returns to the Vatican.”

According to CNN, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, head of the Pope’s medical team, confirmed at a press briefing that the Pope would be discharged on Sunday in a stable condition. The Holy Father has been advised to continue partial medication and undergo at least two months of rest and convalescence.

This marks Pope Francis’ longest hospital stay since he was elected in 2013. Though absent from the public eye, he remained connected to the faithful via a short audio message and a photo released by the Vatican last week, showing him praying in the hospital chapel.

Despite his health concerns, the Pope continues to lead. Just last week, he approved a major three-year reform plan aimed at restructuring the Catholic Church. The proposed reforms seek greater inclusion of women, potentially allowing them to serve as deacons, and a larger governance role for non-clergy members.