Pope Francis back in Vatican after over month in hospital

The pope on Sunday made his first public appearances following five weeks of medical treatment. Doctors at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital diagnosed the 88-year-old pope with double pneumonia after his initial hospitalization on Feb. 14. The pontiff on Sunday addressed about 3,000 people outside the hospital before he was discharged. On his way back to the Vatican, Francis stopped at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major where he met with church leaders and delivered flowers to be placed before the icon of Mary Salus Populi Romani. Francis often visits the church. The painting is traditionally connected to several popes in history including Pope Gregory I (590-604).

What updates have the pope’s doctors given about his condition? Francis should continue to convalesce for two months at the Vatican, medical staff said on Saturday before he left the hospital. Head of the medical team Dr. Sergio Alfieri said Francis had made significant improvements over the past week and said physicians had successfully treated the double pneumonia. Alfieri said there were two points during Francis’ hospitalization when his condition was critical and his life was in danger.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report about the pope being given oxygen therapy.