Pope Francis made a surprise appearance at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, two weeks after he finished a recent hospital stay.
Vatican News reported that official appearances were not on the Pope’s schedule for Sunday, but he went to St. Peter’s Square at the end of a Mass centered around healthcare workers and sick people.
“Have a good Sunday. Thank you all!!” Francis said to those who had come for the St. Peter’s Square mass Sunday morning, according to Vatican News.
The Pope was released from a Roman hospital and returned to the Vatican late last month after five weeks of dealing with double pneumonia. He was hospitalized in February, with the Vatican stating he had developed pneumonia in both of his lungs.
A few weeks later, the Vatican said the pontiff had suffered two episodes of “acute respiratory insufficiency,” with the pope receiving two bronchoscopies.
“Today, the Holy Father suffered two episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency, caused by a significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and consequent bronchospasm,” a statement from the Vatican at the time read.