Pope Francis waves to well-wishers from hospital balcony, bestows blessing to pilgrims in first public appearance

By Jackie de Vega

      Vatican City

Pope Francis waves to his flock of pilgrims in the Jubilee of the World of Communications, January 26, 2025. [Screencap from video by Jackie de Vega]

A fragile-looking yet smiling Pope Francis waved to the crowd outside the hospital and gave a thumbs up to the pilgrims in his first-ever public appearance on Sunday at Gemelli Hospital in Rome after over a month´s confinement due to bilateral pneumonia.

Shortly after the text of the Angelus was released, the crowd erupted with applause and chants as the 88-year-old pope emerged, wheeled into the balcony by his aide. 

He gave a brief greeting and expressed his thanks to his well-wishers.

Before he was wheeled back in, the pope gave his blessing to the pilgrims. It was noticeable that the pontiff’s breathing was still labored. He also appeared to struggle when he raised his arm while gesturing with the sign of the cross to bless the crowd.

Catholic faithful trooped to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis last Sunday, March 23, 2025.

Before this public appearance, the Pope had been seen only once in a photograph released by the Vatican last week, showing him praying in the hospital chapel. An audio recording of Pope Francis thanking everyone for their prayers was played in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City earlier this month.

For the past five weeks, Pope Francis' condition has been a matter of great concern making his first appearance a deeply emotional occasion.

Eva Riola Quonola, a resident of Rome since 1992 felt blessed to have seen the Pope in his first public appearance since his hospitalization.  [Photo by Jackie de Vega]

“Masayang masaya ako kay Papa dahil nakalabas na siya,” Eva Riola Quonola told Pinoy Portal Europe(PPE). Quonola is but one of the many Filipinos who came to see the Pope at his first public appearance. She has been living in Rome since 1992.

“Sana tuloy-tuloy na ang paggaling niya,” she added and expressed  a deep sense of joy and relief after seeing the pontiff at the balcony.   

Pope Francis smiles at everyone as he was wheeled around the pilgrims during the last Jubilee of the World of Communications, January 26, 2025. [Screencap from video by Jackie de Vega]

A pilgrimage group of Filipinos from the USA was on a final stop of their tour and felt blessed that they were able to witness Pope Francis’ first public appearance in Rome.

“And to see the pope getting better, ay kami masaya,” said Imelda Austria, a retired nurse from New Jersey. “We are praying very hard for his health,” she added.

 Imelda Austria, a retired nurse from Jersey was part of a Pilgrimage tour with Filipinos from the USA who received the blessings from the Pope in his first public appearance after over a month in the Gemelli hospital.  [Photo by Jackie de Vega]

Even as he is discharged and appears on the mend, Pope Francis is not fully healed. His doctors have advised him to rest for at least two months within the walls of the Vatican.

While it will still take a while before Pope Francis fully returns to public life, the Catholic faithful all over the world sighed a collective relief that the Pontiff is getting out of the hospital and will continue to lead the Church in the days ahead.

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