RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “VATICAN PRESS OFFICE” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO —EDITORIAL USE ONLY— SHOTLIST: VATICAN CITY, VATICAN (APRIL 6, 2025) (VATICAN PRESS OFFICE - RESTRICTED) 1. VARIOUS OF POPE FRANCIS BEING CARRIED WITH WHEELCHAIR 2. POPE FRANCIS GREETING MASS GATHERED AT ST. PETER SQUAREVATICAN CITY, VATICAN - APRIL 06: Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of Catholics and head of state of the Vatican, appeared in St. Peter's Square for the first time today after his respiratory illness and greeted the public. As part of the traditional “Jubilee” year, which the Catholic world celebrates every 25 years, there was a surprise in the last part of the ceremony organized for patients and health sector workers in the Vatican today. Pope Francis, who was discharged on March 23 after being treated at Gemelli Hospital in Rome for 38 days for severe bronchitis he had in February and is currently convalescing, appeared in St. Peter's Square for the first time today after his illness. The 88-year-old Pope, who was brought to the square in a wheelchair, greeted the people and said, "Good Sunday to everyone. Thank you very much." It was seen that the Pope had difficulty speaking and had a nasal catheter in his nose for oxygen support. Meanwhile, as it was Sunday, the Vatican shared a written message from Pope Francis after his traditional Sunday prayer. "Let us continue to pray for peace in Ukraine, where attacks have killed many civilians, including children. The same thing is happening in Gaza. People are forced to live in unimaginable conditions, without shelter, without food, without clean water. Let the guns fall silent, let the dialog begin. All hostages must be released and the people must be helped." The Pope also condemned violence against health workers in his message for the ceremony at the Vatican. On Feb. 14, the pope was admitted to Gemelli Hospital and was reported to have a polymicrobial infection in his respiratory tract. The Vatican announced on Feb. 18 that the pope had developed bilateral pneumonia and his clinical condition was complicated. He had an asthma attack on Feb. 22 and his condition was critical. The pope suffered acute respiratory failure twice and non-invasive mechanical ventilation was resumed March 3. However, he has been stable since March 4, and has begun to show signs of improvement. On March 16, the Vatican shared a photo frame of Pope Francis praying in the chapel of his hospital room, which was the first photo frame shared since the Pope's hospitalization.