Rome
Cnn
–
Pope Francis made a surprise public appearance on Sunday, the first time that the head of the Catholic church was seen in public since his departure from the hospital two weeks ago.
Francis praised the vatican crowds and seemed in a good mood. He was sitting in a wheelchair and wore what seemed to be a nasal cannula that helped his breathing.
The 88 -year -old pontiff spent five weeks at the hospital with pneumonia in February and March. According to his medical team, the Pope came to death during the disease.
Francis appeared in Better Health that when he was last seen in public, two weeks shortly before his release from the Gemelli Hospital in Rome. At that time, he fought to speak and raise his arms, but managed to greet people and gave a boost from a balcony.
On Sunday, the Pope seemed to move his arms more easily. His voice was still weak, but stronger than two weeks ago.
The appearance of the pope had not been announced before.
Sunday, crowds of faithful gathered on the Place Saint-Pierre du Vatican when the pope made his short appearance after a mass dedicated to the patients.
When the smiling pontiff was rolled, those who applauded it wildly.
The Vatican said that the Pope had gone to the confession in the Saint-Pierre basilica on Sunday morning and had gathered before greeting the pilgrims and the faithful in the square.
Francis was admitted to the Gemelli hospital on February 14, initially suffering from a serious respiratory infection. It was then diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection, which evolved towards pneumonia in the two lungs.
He was released on March 23 and was to convince Casa Santa Marta, his residence at the Vatican. His doctors declared at a press conference at the time that he had to recover for at least two months to allow his body to heal completely.
The long stay in hospital has marked the greatest health crisis that Francis has known since he was elected Pope in 2013.
His doctors told journalists that there were “two very critical episodes in which the life of the Holy Father was in danger” during the 38 days when he was hospitalized.