STORY: Pope Francis returned to the Vatican on Sunday (March 23) after surviving a five-week battle in hospital against double pneumonia.
It was the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy.
Shortly before leaving Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, he made his first public appearance from a balcony at the facility…
While emotional well-wishers cheered from below.
A car carrying the pontiff was accompanied by police vehicles through Rome.
It made a short detour for him to bring flowers to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major…
A church to which Francis has a special devotion and visits frequently.
Joshua McElwee is Reuters’ Vatican Correspondent.
“The Vatican said he went into the Basilica briefly to pray, he was then brought back toward the Vatican. He has now gone back to the Vatican, to the Casa Santa Marta where he lives. His doctors have said he will require a further two months of rest to recuperate and to recover, as he’s 88 years old, he has other health conditions and it will take time for his body to fully heal.”
During Pope Francis’ appearance, he thanked Carmela Vittoria Mancuso who arrived every morning during his hospitalization with yellow flowers.
Mancuso, who had prayed for him nightly, expressed her relief.
“Happy, joyful. I don’t know. My heart was bursting. I didn’t think I would feel this way.”
Under medical orders of rest, it’s unclear how much activity Francis will undertake in the coming months.
[if there are good enough shots to continue, i think it’s worth mentioning easter as its soon:]
The pope had been set to meet with Britain’s King Charles on April 8 and to lead the Vatican’s annual Easter celebrations on April 20.
The Vatican has not said whether Francis will be able to keep those appointments.
