Pope makes surprise appearance at St Peter’s Square, two weeks after leaving hospital

Pope Francis made a surprise entrance to the Plaza de San Pedro during a special Mass of the Jubilee for Disease and Health Workers on Sunday, marking his first public appearance in the Vatican since he left the hospital two weeks ago after a combination of pneumonia that potentially deadly.

The pontiff stirred the multitude of faithful who stood up and applauded when he was pushed into a wheelchair without prior notice at the front of the altar in the square.

Some exclaimed: “I see the Pope! ”, While his image emerged for the first time on a large screen that showed him through the holy door before being carried by a ramp to the altar.

“Good Sunday for everyone,” said Francis, speaking in a microphone, who took the opportunity to make sure he was working in a second attempt.

The Pontiff’s voice sounded stronger than when he went to supporters outside the Gemelli Hospital on the day of his release on March 23, after a stay at the five -week hospital.

He carried nasal tubes to receive supplementary oxygen, which the Vatican says that it is gradually reduced.

While greeted and blessed the crowd, the movements of his arm remained limited, which his doctor said he was not related to his illness, but to an un specified trauma suffered before his hospitalization of February 14.

After the Mass, the pontiff greeted some of those who helped in the service, many of those who leaned down to kiss their hands.

He left the square through the holy door.

Pope shares his experience of being sick

Francis has just completed two weeks of at least two months of rest ordered by the doctor while the physical, respiratory and speech therapy continues, as well as the treatment for persistent lung infection.

The Pope referred to his experience with a disease both in the blessing of traditional Sunday and in the homily read by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, organizer of the Holy Year that is expected to bring about 30 million pilgrims to Rome.

Going to the sick among the crowd, said the Pope in the homily read of Fisichella that “at this time of my life I share a lot: the experience of the disease, feel weak, depending on others for many things, needing support.”

“It is not easy, but it is a school where we learn every day to love and let ourselves be loved, without demanding and without rejecting, without repenting, without despair, grateful to God and our brothers for the good we receive, trusting what is yet to come.”

He also urged the faithful not to push the fragile of their lives “as unfortunately a certain mentality today.

In the traditional Sunday blessing, he offered prayers for doctors, nurses and health workers “who do not always help work in inappropriate conditions, sometimes victims of aggression. His mission is not easy and must be supported and respected.”

The faithful were moved by the unexpected appearance of the Pope.

“It was beautiful, something completely unexpected because I didn’t think I would see the Pope,” said Pasquale Citrolo de Trapani, Sicily. “Instead, he gave us this gift.”

Linda Elezi, from the coastal province of Ancona Adriatic, said that Pope’s “surprise” moved her.

“We pray for him every day, and he says for us, and for peace and all over the world, because that is the message of our pilgrimage today: bring peace to everyone,” he said.