Pope Francis to make first public appearance in five weeks tomorrow

The Vatican said Francis hopes to seem at a window to greet well-wishers (Picture: AFP via Getty)

Pope Francis hopes to make his first public appearance in five weeks on Sunday.

Francis, 88, has been confined to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital since being admitted on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that developed into double pneumonia.

He has only been seen once since, when he was pictured from behind during prayers in a hospital chapel.

But in an update this morning, the Vatican said Francis plans to return to a window to greet well-wishers and offer a blessing.

The Vatican press office said yesterday that the pope’s overall condition remained stable, with slight improvements as he continues respiratory and physical physiotherapy.

He was continuing to cut back his reliance on high-flow supplemental oxygen he has needed to breathe throughout the day and not needs the mechanical ventilation mask at night.

Two of his closest advisers said Francis has been recovering well.

Pope Francis concelebrates Holy Mass in the chapel of the apartment on the tenth floor of the Gemelli hospital, where he continues his treatment, in Rome, Italy March 16, 2025. Holy See Press Office/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. — Pope Francis concelebrates Holy Mass within the chapel of the apartment on the tenth floor of the Gemelli hospital, where he continues his treatment (Picture: Reuters)

His chief of staff Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra said he had found Francis in good humour and serene throughout the thrice he has visited the pope.

He visited Francis on February 24, March 2 and March 9, together with the Vatican secretary of state and Francis’s number two, Cardinal Pietro Parolin

‘The pope will get better,’ Pena Parra said on the sidelines of a book launch. ‘The pope is recovering well. The doctors say that he needs a while, nevertheless it’s going well progressively.

‘I discovered him well, serene, in good humour, and — similar to him — tough with the need to go forward.’