Pope Francis leaves hospital after first public appearance in five weeks

Joshua McElwee - Reuters - 23/03
Pope Francis left Rome's Gemelli hospital on Sunday following a five-week stay to be treated for pneumonia, making his first public appearance since February 14 by waving to well-wishers from a balcony moments before he was discharged.
  • Pope Francis leaves hospital after five weeks of treatment
  • Makes first public appearance since February 14
  • Francis, 88, had double pneumonia, other complications
  • Doctors say pontiff will need two months of rest
VATICAN CITY, March 23 (Reuters) - Pope Francis left Rome's Gemelli hospital on Sunday following a five-week stay to be treated for pneumonia, making his first public appearance since February 14 by waving to well-wishers from a balcony moments before he was discharged.
Francis, 88, went to hospital on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that became the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy.

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A car carrying Francis left the hospital shortly after noon on Sunday, and was accompanied through Rome by a convoy of police vehicles towards the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
The pontiff, who has a special devotion to the church and goes there frequently, returned to the Vatican shortly after the visit.
The pope's doctors said on Saturday it would still take "a lot of time" for his aging body to fully heal, and said they had prescribed the pontiff a further two months of rest at the Vatican.
Just before leaving the hospital on Sunday, Francis smiled and waved at a group of well-wishers gathered outside. He used a wheelchair, as he has for several years.
His face looked swollen and he appeared only for a few moments, speaking bri...
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