Two weeks after leaving the hospital, Pope Francis made a surprise entrance to St. Peter's Square on Sunday. His visit during a special Jubliee Mass for sick and health workers made his first public appearance at the Vatican since his got discharged from the hospital.
He waved at the crowd as he made his entrance in front of the altar in the square.
"Good Sunday to everyone," Pope Francis said.
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The pontiff was advised rest for at least two months as he continues physical, respiratory and speech therapy. Along with this, he is also undergoing treatment for his lung infection.
Addressing the sick among the crowd, the pope said, "In this moment of my life I share a lot: the experience of infirmity, feeling weak, depending on the others for many things, needing support."
"It is not easy, but it is a school in which we learn every day to love and to let ourselves be loved, without demanding and without rejecting, without regretting, without despairing, grateful to God and to our brothers for the good that we receive, trusting for what is still to come."
The Pope got discharged from the Gemeli hospital on March 23 after battling life-threatening pneumonia during a five-week hospital stay.
The doctors, who treated the Pope, at one stage lost hope that he was going to make it. Special prayers for the pontiff was held in St Peter’s Square everyday with hundreds taking part in it.
During the Sunday blessing, he offered prayers for doctors, nurses and health care workers “who are not always helped to work in inadequate conditions, at times the victims of aggression. Their mission is not easy and must be supported and respected.”
