The pope appears in front of the crowd on Saint-Pierre square

Vatican City (AP) – Pope Francis made a surprise entry into Saint-Pierre square during a special jubilee mass for patient and health agents on Sunday, marking its first public appearance in the Vatican since Leaving T He hospital two weeks ago after a deadly fight with pneumonia.

The pontiff made a sign of the crowd of faithful who got up and applauded while he was pushed in an unexpected wheelchair at the front of the altar on the square. Some have exclaimed: “I see the pope!

“Good Sunday to everyone,” said Francis, speaking in a microphone, whom he hit to make sure that he was working on a second attempt. “Thank you so much.”

The pontiff’s voice seemed stronger than when He addressed sympathizers Outside the Gemelli Hospital on the day of its release on March 23, after a five -week hospital stay.

He wore nasal tubes to receive additional oxygen, which, according to the Vatican, is gradually reduced. While he agitated and blessed the crowd, his arm movements remained limited – which His doctor Said was not linked to his illness but to an undeveloped trauma suffered before his hospitalization of February 14.

After mass, the pontiff welcomed some of those who helped the service, many who bowed to kiss her hands. He came out of the square through the holy door.

Pope shares his experience of being sick

Francis has just finished two weeks of at least two months of rest ordered by the doctor while he continues from physical, respiratory and speech therapy, as well as treatment for a persistent pulmonary infection.

The Pope has referred to his experience of the disease both in the traditional Sunday blessing and the homily read by the Archbishop Rino Fisichella, organizer of the Holy Year who should bring some 30 million pilgrims to Rome.

Speaking to the sick among the crowd, the pope said in the homily read by Fisichella that “at the moment of my life, I share a lot: Infirmity experience, Feel weak, according to others for many things, requiring support.

“It is not easy, but it is a school in which we learn every day to love and to let ourselves be loved, without demanding and without rejecting, without regretting, without despair, recognizing God and our brothers for the good that we receive, trusting what is to come. ”

He also urged the faithful not to push the fragiles of their lives “as unfortunately a certain mentality does today. Let us not mainner the pain of our environment. Instead, let’s make the opportunity to grow together, cultivate hope. ”

In the traditional Sunday blessing, he offered prayers for doctors, nurses and health workers “who are not always helped to work in inadequate conditions, sometimes the victims of the attack. Their mission is not easy and must be supported and respected. ”

The faithful were moved by the unexpected appearance of the Pope.

“It was beautiful, something completely unexpected because I did not think I would see the pope,” said Pasquale Citrolo de Trapani, in Sicily. “Instead, he gave us this gift.”

Linda Elezi, from the Adriatic coastal province of Ancône, said that she had been affected by the Pope’s “surprise”.

“We pray for him every day, and he prays for us, and for peace and for all WOLD, because it is the message of our pilgrimage today: bring peace to the world,” she said.

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Barry reported to Milan.