On March 23, Pope Francis was discharged from the hospital and made his first public appearance in weeks after being hospitalized with pneumonia in both lungs.

Pope Francis still has a long way to go before his recovery is considered complete, however. CNN reports that "Pope Francis appears frail" and MSN reports that "Pope Francis must relearn to speak." Still, being well enough to leave the hospital represents a step in the right direction.

The Pope will require at least two months of rest and care at the Vatican, NPR indicates.

Road to recovery

NBC reports:

"Pope Francis was discharged from the hospital Sunday after making a brief public appearance for the first time in more than five weeks, waving to a crowd from his window at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital where he had been hospitalized with pneumonia in both lungs.

The pontiff, 88, smiled and greeted the cheering crowds waiting outside for a glimpse at the leader of the Catholic Church, who appeared on the balcony in a wheelchair, which he has used for several years."

After appearing before the crowd, Francis made the sign of the cross and was taken back into his room. He was discharged shortly after.

The Pope waved to his adorers from the back seat of a car as his convoy left the hospital.

While Francis did not offer his usual weekly prayer, the Vatican did release a text prepared by him on the day he was released:

"In this long period of hospitalization, I have had the opportunity to experience the patience of the Lord, which I also see reflected in the tireless care of doctors and healthcare workers, as well as in the devotion and hopes of the families of the sick," the statement read.

NBC reports that in the rest of the text, "the pope addressed some of the world's conflicts, welcoming a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and saying he was saddened by 'the resumption of heavy Israeli bombing on the Gaza Strip.'"

A grueling five weeks

Pope Francis was first hospitalized on February 14, 2025.

Immediately, there were major concerns about Francis' chances of survival. As a young man, Francis had part of his right lung removed because of an infection, which means respiratory issues are particularly dangerous for him.

The Pope experienced at least two critical episodes while hospitalized. The first occurred on February 16, and the second happened on March 2. Both were serious enough that it was a legitimate question to ask regarding his chances of survival.

Luckily, Pope Francis appears to be on the road to recovery, but he's not out of the woods yet. Please pray for his continued improvement.