Pope Francis made an unannounced appearance in St. Peter’s Square—his first since being discharged from the hospital two weeks ago. But his frail condition left many online expressing deep concern over his health.
Pope Francis appeared in public for the first time in two weeks on Sunday, April 6, following his recent hospitalization. The 88-year-old pontiff made an unscheduled appearance after a jubilee mass for the sick and healthcare workers in St. Peter’s Square and offered a brief message of gratitude to the crowd.
“Have a good Sunday, and thank you all very much!” he said to the pilgrims, who were not expecting to see him. The Vatican confirmed that before greeting the faithful, the Pope passed through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica and received the sacrament of confession.
While many welcomed the appearance as a sign of resilience, others expressed concern about his visibly declining health.
Photos from the moment showed the Pope seated in a wheelchair, draped in his traditional white robes, with an oxygen tube beneath his nose and a large crucifix around his neck. His expression appeared weary, his movements slow.
“He looks weak,” one person commented online, while another wrote, “Oh no, he’s in bad shape.” Others were more blunt, with one user observing, “This is heartbreaking…” and another pointing out in part, “Dude is sick, look at his eyes.”
Others echoed the concern, noting that even in his moment of resilience, his physical decline was hard to ignore. One person remarked that he still appeared unwell, calling the sight “sad.” Another observed that he looked noticeably different, while someone else suggested he was revealing a changed version of himself to the world—a quiet acknowledgment of his enduring commitment, even as his health fades.