Pope Francis made his first public appearance on 23 March after more than five weeks of illness-related absence. The pontiff waved from the balcony of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital before his expected discharge from the medical facility in the afternoon.
Francis, 88, was hospitalised on 14 February with a severe respiratory infection that led to the most serious deterioration in his health during his 12-year papacy.
On 22 March, doctors said the head of the Roman Catholic Church would need “a lot more time to recover” and that they had recommended two months of rest for the pontiff. “Patients with bilateral pneumonia lose their voice a little bit, and especially elderly people need time for their voice to return to normal,” said doctor Sergio Alfieri.
During his stay at the Gemelli clinic, the pope had “two critical episodes” that put his life in danger, according to doctors. He is now no longer suffering from pneumonia and is in a stable condition.
Back at the age of 21, the future Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, had part of his lung removed, and since then he has been particularly prone to respiratory problems.