Pope Francis is set to make his first public appearance in over five weeks this Sunday, where he will deliver a blessing from the window of his room at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome. The Vatican has confirmed this as he continues to recover from a double pneumonia diagnosis.
The 88-year-old pontiff was hospitalized on February 14 due to a severe respiratory infection that has necessitated a series of treatments. Throughout his stay, the Pope has only been visible to the public once, with a photo released by the Vatican last week showing him in prayer at a hospital chapel.
The Vatican indicated that Francis hopes to greet the public from his hospital window around noon on Sunday. Typically, the Pope offers a midday prayer every Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, but he has been unable to do so since February 9, prior to his hospital admission.
While he is expected to make this greeting, the Vatican noted that Francis would not be delivering his usual Sunday prayer, reflecting his ongoing recovery from pneumonia. Historically, he is more susceptible to lung infections due to a past battle with pleurisy and the removal of part of one lung.
This hospitalization marks the most significant health issue during his 12-year papacy and represents the longest period he has been out of public view since being elected in 2013. Recent updates from the Vatican about the Pope’s health have been cautiously optimistic. On Friday, officials stated that he has been able to reduce his reliance on high-flow oxygen for breathing.
However, a senior cardinal suggested that it might take some time for the Pope to “relearn how to speak” after using oxygen during his recovery. Cardinal Victor Fernandez, who oversees Vatican doctrine, commented, “The Pope is doing quite well, but high-flow oxygen can be quite dehydrating. He will need to adjust, but his overall health remains stable.”
While the Vatican has not provided a specific timeline for the Pope’s discharge from the hospital, upcoming arrangements for a meeting with King Charles of Britain on April 8 hint at the possibility that Francis may return to his Vatican residence by then.
