Pope Francis appeared publicly for the first time in more than five weeks on Sunday, offering a brief wave from a balcony at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital before leaving the facility.
The 88-year-old pontiff, who was admitted on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection—the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy—made a short appearance shortly after noon. Using a wheelchair as he has for several years, Francis smiled and waved at hundreds of well-wishers gathered below, chanting his name. His face, noticeably swollen, was visible only for a few moments as he spoke with a feeble voice to thank a crowd member who had brought yellow flowers.
Though his doctors warned on Saturday that his aging body still needs "a lot of time" to fully recover, they also prescribed an additional two months of rest at the Vatican following his discharge. Prior to this appearance, the pope had been seen by the public only once during his hospital stay, when the Vatican released a photo last week of him at prayer in a hospital chapel.
The brief public outing, marked by warm cheers from well-wishers, comes as the pontiff prepares for his anticipated departure from the hospital later in the afternoon, signaling a cautious step toward recovery amid ongoing health concerns.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
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Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 22 September 2026. These are five key bilateral and multilateral meetings taking place on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Torrential rains brought by Typhoon Dujuan have caused landslides and flooding along Japan’s Pacific coast, killing four people and leaving six others missing, public broadcaster NHK reported on Tuesday.
When U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on 24 September, traders will be watching for more than the outcome of the two leaders' talks.
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