Pope Francis made a surprise appearance on stage in a wheelchair, with an oxygen tube under his nose at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican after being discharged from the hospital after five weeks of treatment on Sunday.
“Hello to everybody,” he said, waving to cheering crowds.
“Happy Sunday to all of you, thank you very much.”
The pontiff’s voice sounded stronger than when he addressed well-wishers outside of Gemelli Hospital the day he was discharged on March 23 after a five-week hospital stay.
After the Mass, the pontiff greeted some of those who assisted in the service, many of whom bowed to kiss his hands.
He exited the square through the Holy Door.
The Pope referred to his experience with illness in both the traditional Sunday blessing and the homily read by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, organiser of the Holy Year, who is expected to bring some 30 million pilgrims to Rome.
Addressing the sick among the crowd, the pope said in Fisichella’s homily, “In this moment of my life, I share a lot the experience of infirmity, feeling weak, depending on 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.’’
He also urged the faithful not to push the fragile from their lives “as, unfortunately, a certain mentality does today. Let’s not ostracize pain from our surroundings. Let’s instead make it an opportunity to grow together, to cultivate hope.’’
LEADERSHIP recalls that the Pope was discharged from a hospital in Rome on 23 March and appeared at his window to offer a blessing.
Doctors said at the time that he would need at least two months of rest at his residence.
The Vatican on Friday said his health was improving, saying he was “in good spirits” as he continued his work activities.
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