The world sees Pope, congratulations from Gemelli: « Thank you all »

Francis appeared for the first time since the beginning of the paving, on the balcony of the polyclinic, before leaving the hospital where it had been paved since February 14th. Hi, blessings and applause from a crowd of 3,000 people gathered in the square, who applauded and called out his name. Pope’s greeting to Mrs. Carmela, 78, holding a bouquet of yellow flowers in his hands

« Thank you all! »
Here’s the pope, here’s the re-linge in front of the 3,000 believers gathered in the morning in the Square of Gemelli, who in these 39 days has heard an uninterrupted chain of prayers for his healing. A little word from the balcony of the fifth floor, a tired face, two hands on his knees, rising to bless…. A libido, when you look at and listen to the crowd cheering: « Francesco, Francesco! » « We love you! » « We’re here for you! »

Hello Karmela, « Lady of Yellow Flowers »
« Thank you all! » says Pope with a weak voice. A greeting was expected, but the Pope wanted to see and hear. His gaze passed from one side of the square – to the other, then, as is typical of him, focused on one detail: Mrs. Carmela Mancuso, 78, from Calabria, in the front row looking at the small balcony, with a bouquet of yellow flowers. It was launched from the San Pietro station to Gemelli. Almost every day, for more than a month, but has done so many times during Wednesday’s general audience.

« I see this lady with yellow flowers! It’s good! »
A applause, a chorus cheering « Long live the pope! » Karmela herself lowers her head to hide the flow of tears. « I don’t know what to say. Thank you, thank you, God and the Holy Father. I didn’t think who was seeing me – she then commented on the Vatican media – had to give the blessing and instead, without my herd of roses.

Mrs. Karmela with yellow flowers for Pope

The embrace of the people
Congratulations expressed by nurses, doctors and students of the Catholic University gathered in the yard. And even the believers of different nationalities, such as those of the Auxilium cooperative, who set up before 12 o’clock a large poster of flags from around the world and a call for peace. …
Then there is the Sister Geneviéve Jeanningos, the Luna Park angel in Ostia, dedicated to the pastor of Roma and Sinti, but also of homosexuals and transgender. An old acquaintance of the Pope (« Terrible Baby », he calls him) who goes to greet him every Wednesday in the audience, in St. Peter’s Square or Paul VI. « I was looking forward to Francis to look like, » comments on the Vatican media. « We didn’t endure anymore. We wish all the best. The best wishes! »

Flowers, Our Lady in St. Mary Great
Immediately after Francescu left the balcony, the crowd moved to Gemelli’s entrance to follow Pope’s exit with his usual, white, already known by all. More greetings and calls accompanied the Pope’s passing into the car, with the glass up. The direction is Santa Maria Maggiore, Basilica who never – after an international trip, surgery and hospitalization – Jorge Mario Bergoglio has not been missing to pray to Our Lady Salus Populi Romani and thank her for her protection. The Holy See Press Hall announced that the Pope surrendered the flowers to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, the high priest of the Liberian Basilica, to be placed at the altar of the Marian icon.

The Pope delivers the flowers to Our Lady of Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas (Vatican Media Divisions Photo)

Farewell, before leaving the hospital
Before leaving the hospital balcony, Pope Francis wanted to briefly greet the staff and leaders of the Catholic University and Polyclinic Gemelli: Rector of the Catholic University of Christ, Professor Elena Beccalli; President of the University Hospital Foundation Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Dr. Daniele Franco; Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the Catholic University, Professor Antonio Gasbarini; Vice President of the Foundation, Giuseppe Fioroni; Director General, Marco Elefanti, University Ecclesiastical Assistant, Monsignor Claudio Giuliodori and Professor Sergio Alfieri, Director of the Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Head of the Gemeli Medical Team and the Health Director of the Polyclinic Foundation Gemelli, Andrea Cambieri.

Republic of Albania; – Vatican