Recovering Pope Francis makes surprise appearance at Vatican square

Pope Francis mingled with delighted crowds at the Vatican, just two weeks after leaving hospital where he was treated for pneumonia. See the photos.

Pope Francis, who is recovering after a serious case of pneumonia, made a surprise appearance Sunday as he mingled with crowds at the Vatican just two weeks after leaving hospital.

“A good Sunday to all. Thank you very much”, the 88-year old Pope said as he was wheeled through Saint Peter’s Square in his wheelchair after a mass dedicated to the sick.

Pope Francis looks on from his wheelchair on St. Peter's square as he prepares to lead the Angelus prayer in The Vatican on April 6. Picture: Alberto Pizzoli / AFP

Pope Francis is cheered at by faithful at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican. Picture: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

Surrounded by a mass of smartphones and cameras, and attached to nasal breathing tubes, his voice was fragile but more audible than when he left the Gemelli hospital on 23 March.

His last public appearance was 14 February.

Pope Francis has his oxygen mask adjusted as he sits in his wheelchair on St. Peter's square ahead of the Angelus prayer in The Vatican, on April 6. Picture: Alberto Pizzoli / AFP

Faithful applaud as the Pope Francis is pushed in his wheelchair after leading the Angelus prayer on St. Peter's square in The Vatican. Picture: Alberto Pizzoli / AFP

On Saturday the Vatican said Pope Francis was showing “slight improvements” as he recovered from pneumonia, hinting that the 88-year-old pontiff could appear for the Angelus prayer.

The head of the Catholic Church spent five weeks in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital before being discharged on March 23 to his home in the Vatican, where doctors say he will need at least two months of convalescence.

Pope Francis arrives on a wheelchair at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican. Picture: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

Pope Francis looks on from his wheelchair on St. Peter's square as he prepares to lead the Angelus prayer in The Vatican on April 6. Picture: Alberto Pizzoli / AFP

For seven successive Sundays, Francis has published a written text to mark the midday Angelus prayer, which in normal times he delivers from a window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St Peter’s Square.

Pope Francis at the mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican. Picture: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

This weekend’s Angelus “could be held differently from on previous Sundays”, the Vatican press office said on Saturday.