Pope Francis has made his first official public appearance among a huge crowd after a bout of pneumonia.
The 88-year-old pontiff was treated at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for five weeks after suffering double pneumonia.
Pope Francis was seen rolling down a ramp in a wheelchair on St Peter’s Square in the Vatican despite the recent hospital stay, which saw him be in a ‘critical condition’ several times.
He made a brief statement on the stage during his first proper public appearance after he had continued recovering outside the hospital.
The Pontiff was wearing an oxygen tube to receive supplementary air during the Sunday event in front of supporters and Vatican cardinals.
The Pope was discharged on March 22 when he briefly appeared on the balcony of the hospital to wave at supporters as he has been eager to return to duties.
He has been battling respiratory issues for a long time. As a young man, he had part of one lung removed.
Pope Francis, then known as Jorge Bergoglio, had part of his right lung removed in Argentina when he was 21.
The Argentinian Holy Father is an admitted workaholic.
Pope Francis’ health crisis
The Pope was admitted to the hospital on February 14 where he was treated for a respiratory crisis, including bronchitis and pneumonia, mild kidney failure and coughing fits.
At times, his condition was life-threatening.
The head of the Catholic church received blood transfusions after signs of anaemia.
Doctors treating him at the Rome hospital feared he could suffer sepsis – a dangerous and often fatal condition for anyone when bacteria gets into the bloodstream – after the complex respiratory issues.
He has suffered other health problems in recent years, including flu symptoms in September and February last year, which forced him to cancel appointments.
Over the weeks, the Pope began to show signs of improvement and he was even well enough to send a recorded message played during a night prayer in the Vatican on March 6.
He said in his native Spanish: ‘I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers in the Square for my health.
‘May God bless you.’
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