Pope was discharged and first appeared in public

Pope Francis appeared at one of the hospital balconies shortly before being discharged. Sitting in a wheelchair that he has been using for several years, the Pope smiled and greeted the crowd gathered in front of the hospital.

The Pope, whose face seemed swollen, appeared in public only a few moments. He spoke in a weak voice a few words to thank a person in the crowd who brought yellow flowers.

Francisc was seen by the public only once during his hospitalization, in a photo published by the Vatican last week, in which the pontifum appeared praying in the hospital chapel.

Pope Francis left the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Sunday at the end of a five -week hospital because of a pneumonia and appeared for the first time in public on February 14th.

Francis, 88 years old, was admitted on February 14 due to a severe respiratory infection that turned into the most significant health crisis during its 12 years of pontificate.

A vehicle that transported Pope Francis left the hospital on Sunday, shortly after noon, and directed to the basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, accompanied on the streets of Rome by a convoy of police.

The pontiff, who frequently pray in this basilica, returned to the Vatican shortly after this stop.