Pope Francis to make first public appearance since hospital admission

Pope Francis will make his first public appearance on Sunday with a blessing and a wave from Rome’s Gemelli hospital.

Pope Francis, who is in hospital, gestures to the crowd during the Epiphany Angelus prayer in January. Picture: Andreas Solaro / AFP

Pope Francis will make his first public appearance on Sunday with a blessing and a wave from Rome’s Gemelli hospital where he was admitted on February 14 with breathing problems.

The 88-year-old pontiff has been battling pneumonia in both lungs after being hospitalised.

“Pope Francis intends to wave and offer a blessing from the Agostino Gemelli hospital in Rome after Angelus prayers,” The Vatican said Saturday, local time.

Francis has missed the Angelus prayers for five straight weeks for the first time since his election in March 2013.

The Angelus prayers are normally recited by the Pope at midday (9pm AEDT) every Sunday.

Francis has made public appearances from the Gemelli hospital earlier -- on July 11, 2021 he recited the Angelus prayer from his balcony on the 10th floor of the hospital following colon surgery.

The current hospitalisation is the longest in Francis’s papacy and has raised questions over who might lead the busy schedule of religious events leading up to Easter, the holiest period in the Christian calendar.

Earlier this week, the Vatican’s press office said that no definite decisions had been taken yet in that regard.

It also said that Francis had suspended the use of an oxygen mask on Wednesday, adding that his clinical condition was “improving”.

For most of Francis’ hospital stay, including critical stages, the Vatican was publishing daily bulletins on the health of Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man.

Despite Francis’s improvement, speculation abounds that he could step down due to his fragility, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Benedict XVI.

On Monday, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin told reporters that he had noted an improvement in Francis’ health during a visit.

But asked whether the conversation had turned to the Francis’ resignation, he replied: “No, no, no, absolutely not.” Catholics and others worldwide have been praying for his speedy recovery. Many have been leaving flowers, candles and notes for Francis outside the Gemelli hospital