Pope Francis made a surprise public appearance on Sunday as he mingled with crowds at the Vatican just two weeks after leaving hospital for a serious case of pneumonia.  

"A good Sunday to all. Thank you very much," the 88-year-old pope said as he was pushed through Saint Peter's Square in his wheelchair after a mass dedicated to the sick. 

Surrounded by a mass of smartphones and cameras, and attached to nasal breathing tubes, his voice was fragile but more audible than in his last public appearance on 23 March, when Francis greeted crowds before leaving the Gemelli hospital. Before that, the Argentine had not been seen since 14 February. 

Francis is, in theory, undergoing two months of convalescence following his life-threatening health scare, with strict rest, no public activity and no contact with crowds ordered.

Yet the Jesuit spent Sunday morning blessing the masses gathered on the sunny square, in an encouraging signal for his health two weeks before Christians the world over will celebrate Easter.

"I was very overwhelmed to see the holy father because I did not think that his state of health would allow him to greet us," Italian doctor Dora Moncada told AFPTV, admitting to have "cried out of emotion."

His eagerness to reach out to the flock, however, comes against the advice of his doctors, who have urged him to avoid meeting groups of people to limit the risk of infection.

"He's doing better, that's clear, and he wants that to be seen," a Vatican source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"He's not yet well enough to deliver a message, but well enough to make a gesture... and show up," the source added.

Blessed be the doctors

According to his doctors, Francis almost died twice during his time in hospital, the longest and most fraught in his 12 years as head of the Church.

His physical state has sparked speculation that the pontiff might hang up his papal crook after the example of his predecessor Benedict XVI, who quit in 2013 citing his declining mental and physical health.

A few minutes before his surprise appearance, the leader of the globe's 1.4 billion Catholics received the sacrament in St Peter's Cathedral, the Vatican said in a statement on Telegram.  

"We were not expecting him, until for myself I saw it on the screen — I couldn't believe it," said Janet Muchengwa, a nurse who came from the United Kingdom.

As in previous weeks, Francis did not read out the customary Angelus prayer, which was published in written form instead.

"I pray for the doctors, the nurses and the healthcare workers, who are not always helped to work in adequate conditions and who are even, sometimes, victims of attacks," the pontiff wrote. 

"Their mission is not easy and must be supported and respected."

His message went on to offer a prayer for an end to the world's conflicts, mentioning in turn Ukraine, Sudan, neighbouring South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, quake-hit Myanmar and Haiti. 

Pray for Gaza

Francis likewise prayed for the Middle East and especially Gaza, where Israel last week again launched a ground offensive against Palestinian militant group Hamas. 

In the Palestinian territory "people are forced to live in unimaginable conditions, without shelter, without food, without drinkable water," the pope said. 

"Let the weapons fall silent and dialogue begin again," he added, calling for the freeing of the hostages held by Hamas since its 7 October 2023 attack that began the war.

Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has suffered a series of health woes in recent years.

The pneumonia he suffered means that Francis will require physical re-education to recover the use of his voice.

He is being assisted in his recovery by healthcare workers night and day at his Vatican residence.

Francis has not seen any visitors beyond his closest colleagues since his release from the Gemelli Hospital.

Yet he has taken up his papal duties again, notably in editing and putting his signature to documents, according to the Holy See.

He has, however, been forced to reduce his usual frenetic schedule, and the scale of his involvement in the religious events leading up to Easter — the holiest period in the Christian calendar — is so far unclear.