Pope makes surprise appearance at St. Peter’s Square, 2 weeks after leaving hospital

Pope Francis arrives at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the jubilee of the sick and the health workers.

Pope Francis made a surprise appearance in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, his first since being discharged from the hospital two weeks ago after intensive treatment for pneumonia. The 88-year-old Pontiff entered the square in a wheelchair, drawing applause from the gathered pilgrims and attendees of a special mass honoring healthcare workers and the sick, held as part of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee 2025 celebrations.

The Pope, visibly frail and breathing through a nasal oxygen tube, stopped in front of the main altar and waved to the crowd before briefly addressing them. “Happy Sunday to everyone,” he said softly. “Thank you so much.”

In this image released by Vatican Media, Pope Francis arrives in a wheelchair at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the Jubilee of the sick and the health workers.

Francis had not appeared in public since March 23, when he greeted well-wishers outside Rome’s Gemelli Hospital following more than five weeks of treatment. His time in hospital was marked by what doctors later revealed to be the most serious health crisis of his papacy, including multiple respiratory emergencies caused by double pneumonia. Medical staff described two of these crises as life-threatening.

Since returning to his private residence at Casa Marta within the Vatican, the Pope has continued receiving treatment and had reportedly not received visitors or left his quarters. A Vatican source stated that his condition has been steadily improving, with his voice regaining strength and his appetite returning to normal.

Pope Francis arrives in a wheelchair at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the Jubilee of the sick and the health workers.

Though unable to deliver the homily himself during Sunday’s mass, the Pope contributed a written message in which he reflected on the shared experience of illness and dependence. “This is not always easy, but it is a school in which we learn each day to love and to let ourselves be loved, without being demanding or pushing back, without regrets and without despair,” he wrote.

He also acknowledged the difficulties faced by healthcare workers, noting that they are sometimes “victims of aggression.” In his message, he extended his prayers for peace in Ukraine and Gaza, where civilians are enduring extreme hardship, lacking basic necessities like shelter, food, and clean water.

Pope Francis arrives on a wheelchair at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the jubilee of the sick and the health workers.

Pope Francis was initially hospitalized on February 14 for bronchitis, which quickly escalated into double pneumonia. He experienced four severe respiratory episodes during his stay. Due to his ongoing recovery, the Pope has canceled several scheduled events and meetings, including a planned audience with King Charles and Queen Camilla during their state visit to Italy this week.