Italy: Pope Francis makes his first public appearance after hospitalization
After several days of worry, Pope Francis reappeared in public this Sunday, March 23, 2025, greeting the crowd from the window of the Agostino Gemelli hospital in Rome.
The 87-year-old pontiff had not been seen in public since February 14, when he was admitted with a serious respiratory infection. Since then, only a brief statement published on March 6 and a photo released on March 16 had provided any news of him.
This morning, to the applause of the faithful gathered outside the hospital, Pope Francis, his voice slightly weakened but full of emotion, expressed his gratitude for the support and prayers received. “Thank you all, and I see this lady with a yellow flower, thank you to her,” he said, visibly moved.
Since his election in 2013, he has faced various health issues, including colon surgery in 2021 and chronic knee pain, which have limited his movements. Despite these challenges, he continues his pastoral and diplomatic missions, pleading for those most in need and encouraging interfaith dialogue.
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