Pope Francis made an unannounced appearance in St. Peter’s Square — his first since being hospitalized two weeks ago. But his frail condition left many online expressing deep concern over his health.
Pope Francis appeared in public for the first time in two weeks on Sunday, April 6, following his recent hospitalization. The 88-year-old pontiff made an unscheduled appearance after Mass for the Jubilee of the Sick and the Healthcare World in St. Peter’s Square and offered a brief message of gratitude to the crowd.
“Have a good Sunday, and thank you all very much!” he said to the pilgrims, who were not expecting to see him. The Vatican confirmed that before greeting the faithful, the Pope passed through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica and received the sacrament of confession.
While many welcomed the appearance as a sign of resilience, others expressed concern about his visibly declining health.
Photos from the moment showed the Pope seated in a wheelchair, draped in his traditional white robes, with an oxygen tube beneath his nose and a large crucifix around his neck. His expression appeared weary, his movements slow.
“He looks weak,” one person commented online, while another wrote, “Oh no, he’s in bad shape.” Others were more blunt, with one user observing, “This is heartbreaking…” and another pointing out in part, “Dude is sick, look at his eyes.”
Others echoed the concern, noting that even in his moment of resilience, his physical decline was hard to ignore. One person remarked that he still appeared unwell, calling the sight “sad.”
Another noted that he looked noticeably different, while someone else suggested he was revealing a changed version of himself to the world — a quiet acknowledgment of his enduring commitment, even as his health fades.
This marked Pope Francis’ first public sighting since his discharge from the hospital on March 23. Though brief, his appearance was a powerful gesture for many — offering reassurance amid growing speculation about his health.
As we previously reported, Pope Francis made a brief yet emotional appearance on the Gemelli Hospital balcony before his discharge on Sunday, March 23. He was smiling and waving to well-wishers who had gathered to see him.
Photos and videos of him circulated online, prompting a flurry of reactions from concerned fans. A wheelchair carried Pope Francis to the balcony, and under his white cassock, bandages were visible on both arms. Despite his frail condition, the 88-year-old pontiff greeted the crowd, his voice noticeably weak.
Among the well-wishers was 79-year-old Carmela Vittoria Mancuso, who had visited the hospital daily during the pope’s treatment. Holding a bouquet of yellow flowers, she was visibly moved when Pope Francis acknowledged her, later sharing that her heart “was bursting” at the moment.
After greeting the crowd from the balcony, the pontiff left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital around noon on Sunday. His car, escorted by police, made a brief stop at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, where he left flowers as a gesture of devotion.
Pope Francis had been admitted for five weeks whilst battling double pneumonia and other complications. This is the most serious health crisis he has faced in his 12-year papacy.
His first public appearance since February 14 sparked a wave of online reactions as fans commented on his changed appearance. Some struggled to recognize him, with one asking, “It is him?” and another person remarking, “He looks very different.”
Other people insisted, “That is not the same person” with more concurring, “That’s not him.” His well-being also sparked worry, with one person commenting, “Looks exhausted,” while another netizen sympathized, “Poor man. He’s so frail.” Many individuals simply wished him well, with one pleading, “Omg…let him rest!”
Though the pope is back at the Vatican, his doctors have advised that his recovery will take time. They have recommended two months of rest and cautioned against large or strenuous gatherings. With his schedule uncertain, it remains to be seen how much activity Pope Francis will resume in the coming months.
While he was breathing on his own during his recent appearance, he used a small oxygen hose under his nose while traveling in his car. Furthermore, his health condition had been so serious that he had been receiving oxygen to help him breathe throughout his hospital stay.
During his hospital stay, Pope Francis was only seen publicly once in a Vatican-released photo showing him praying in a hospital chapel. As his health declined, the Vatican faced mounting questions about what would happen next as it came to light that the pontiff quietly signed a resignation letter to be enacted if he ever became incapacitated.
By November 2024, he had revised the funeral rites that would be used upon his death, streamlining the rituals to highlight his role as a bishop rather than an exalted figure.
The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano reported that he approved the updated liturgical book on April 29, replacing the previous version last updated in 2000.
The decision to revise these rites came in the wake of Pope Benedict XVI’s death on December 31, 2022. As the first retired pope in 600 years, Benedict’s funeral posed unique challenges for the Vatican, prompting Pope Francis to work with Monsignor Ravelli to simplify the traditional ceremonies.
In the event of Pope Francis’ passing behind the scenes, cardinals would prepare for what could be a historic transition. “Around the world, about 200 cardinals would be getting ready to fly to Rome,” Livingstone explained.
“I’m quite sure that would be the case. Quite a few — probably about 50— live in Rome as it is,” she added. A conclave, the closed-door assembly of cardinals responsible for electing a new pope, would then be convened.
Among them, 138 cardinals under the age of 80 would be eligible to vote, while senior cardinals over 80 would participate in pre-conclave discussions. “That promises to be extremely lively this time around,” Livingstone noted.
According to two individuals who were familiar with the situation, the Pope was in severe pain and had privately expressed certainty that he would not recover this time.
In response, he was moved to secure the future direction of the Church by appointing key figures to influential positions, continuing his progressive agenda amid ongoing ideological divisions within the Vatican
