Pope Francis makes his debut public appearance and leaves the hospital

Pope Francis was discharged from Gemelli Hospital after being hospitalized for more than five weeks with pneumonia in both lungs. The 88-year-old Pontiff made a brief public appearance from a window, waving to cheering crowds before being taken back into his room. He is expected to return to Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City but will need two more months of rest. While in the hospital, Pope Francis’s health fluctuated, with moments where his life was in danger and requiring high-flow oxygen therapy. Despite his health challenges, there are no indications that he intends to resign. This hospitalization was not his first serious health challenge, as he underwent surgery in 2021 for diverticulitis and in 2023 for a hernia. The Vatican has emphasized that he has continued to fulfill his duties during his illness. Throughout his stay at the hospital, the world has been closely following his condition, with only one public appearance in which he was seen praying in the hospital’s chapel. Before his hospitalization, Pope Francis was seen with his arm in a sling due to a fall he had suffered. The Vatican has not confirmed any plans for resignation, despite the Pope’s health struggles.