Pope Francis made his first public appearance on Sunday since being released from the hospital two weeks ago, where he was treated for double pneumonia.
The pontiff entered St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in a wheelchair to greet cheering crowds.
The 88-years-old has endured five weeks of treatment in the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy.
In a previously unannounced move, the pope came out to the square shortly before noon (1000 GMT) at the end of the celebration of a Mass for the Catholic Church’s Jubilee year.
The cleric, coming in front of the main altar for the service in bright sunshine, waved to the crowds, before speaking briefly.
“Happy Sunday to everyone,” the pope said, speaking in a frail voice while receiving oxygen via a small hose under his nose. “Thank you so much.”
Francis usually offers a weekly noon-time prayer in St. Peter’s Square on Sundays, but has not been able to do this since February 9, before going to hospital.
He was admitted to hospital on February 14 for a bout of bronchitis that developed into double pneumonia, an especially serious condition for him as he had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed.
