Italy Vatican: Pope wants to make a public appearance on Sunday
According to the Vatican, the seriously ill Pope Francis intends to appear in public again this Sunday for the first time since his hospitalization began. After the traditional Angelus prayer, the 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church plans to appear at the Gemelli Clinic in Rome for a greeting and a blessing, the Vatican announced.
22.03.2025, 11:43
SDA
Francis has been in hospital for five weeks being treated for pneumonia. Since his admission, the Vatican has only published one photo of him. In this photo, Francis can only be seen from behind.
It was not clear from the Vatican's statement whether Francis would like to show himself from the window of his hospital room or possibly even from a balcony. His predecessor Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) sometimes appeared from the window of the clinic during some of his many hospital stays and gave a blessing or read a speech.
However, as in previous weeks, Francis will not lead the Angelus prayer himself on Sunday, the Vatican announced.
