Pope Francis discharged after five-week hospital stay (PHOTOS)

Pope Francis was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Sunday, more than five weeks after being admitted on February 14 due to breathing difficulties that developed into pneumonia.

The 88-year-old pontiff left by car, waving from the closed window of the front seat as he passed journalists. He was seen wearing a nasal cannula, a plastic tube providing oxygen.

Pope Francis waves as he leaves by car the Gemelli hospital after a five weeks hospitalization for pneumonia, in Rome on March 23, 2025. Pope Francis is to leave hospital todayand return to his residence in the Vatican, where he is to spend “at least two months” recovering, one of his doctors announced during a press conference on March 22, 2025. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)

Earlier in the day, the Pope made his first public appearance since his hospitalization, addressing and thanking the faithful from a hospital balcony.

“Thank you, everyone,” a frail-sounding Francis said into a microphone while seated in a wheelchair. He waved gently to the crowd below and gave a thumbs-up gesture.

People reflect on the window of the car as Pope Francis leaves by the Gemelli hospital after a five weeks hospitalization for pneumonia, in Rome on March 23, 2025. Pope Francis is to leave hospital todayand return to his residence in the Vatican, where he is to spend “at least two months” recovering, one of his doctors announced during a press conference on March 22, 2025. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)

Pope Francis arrives at his residence Santa Marta in the Vatican after being discharged from the Gemelli hospital following a five weeks hospitalization for pneumonia, on March 23, 2025. Pope Francis is to leave hospital todayand return to his residence in the Vatican, where he is to spend “at least two months” recovering, one of his doctors announced during a press conference on March 22, 2025. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

Agbenu James