Pope Francis Makes Surprise Comeback After Near-Fatal Illness

Pope Francis made a surprise public appearance on Sunday—the first time the leader of the Catholic Church has been seen in public since being discharged from the hospital two weeks ago.

The 88-year-old pontiff greeted crowds at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square and appeared to be in good spirits. Seated in a wheelchair and wearing a nasal cannula to aid his breathing, Francis smiled and waved to worshippers who cheered wildly upon seeing him.

This unexpected appearance came after a Mass dedicated to the sick and was not previously announced by the Vatican. Earlier in the morning, the pope had gone to confession at St. Peter’s Basilica before emerging to greet the faithful.

Francis had been hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital from February 14 to March 23 with a severe respiratory illness that developed into pneumonia in both lungs. Doctors later confirmed he had been diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection. His medical team revealed that during his 38-day stay, the pope faced two critical health episodes that nearly cost him his life.

When last seen in public shortly before his discharge, the pope struggled to speak and raise his arms, although he managed a wave and gave a thumbs-up from a hospital balcony. On Sunday, however, he seemed noticeably stronger—his voice, though still weak, had improved, and he moved his arms with more ease.

The Vatican had previously stated that the pope would need at least two months of rest to fully recover at his residence, Casa Santa Marta. Sunday’s appearance, though brief, offered a hopeful sign of progress in his recovery and lifted the spirits of many Catholics around the world.

This episode marked the most serious health scare of Francis’s papacy since he assumed the role in 2013.