Pope Francis will make his first public appearance in over five weeks on Sunday, offering a blessing from the window of his room at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital as he recovers from double pneumonia.
The Vatican announced the news on Saturday, marking a significant moment in the pope’s health journey.
The 88-year-old pontiff was admitted to the hospital on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection, which later developed into double pneumonia. This hospitalization has been the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy and the longest period he has been out of public view since his election in 2013.
Pope Francis intends to appear at his window tomorrow to greet the faithful and impart his blessing. pic.twitter.com/vu3K4SJbrY
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) March 22, 2025Francis plans to appear at the hospital window around noon on Sunday to greet the public and offer a blessing. While he will not deliver his usual weekly prayer from St. Peter’s Square, this appearance signals his ongoing recovery. The Vatican has described his condition as “cautiously upbeat,” with Francis reducing his use of high-flow oxygen to aid breathing.
Read: Pope Francis’ Condition Stable Yet Complex Amid Pneumonia Battle
Cardinal Victor Fernandez, the Vatican’s chief doctrine official, noted that the pope is recovering well but may need time to “relearn to speak” after prolonged oxygen use. “His overall physical condition is as before,” Fernandez said.
The Vatican has not provided a specific timeline for the pope’s discharge, but plans for a meeting with Britain’s King Charles on April 8 suggest Francis could return to his Vatican residence by then.
