Visitors to Rome's Gemelli hospital appeared cautiously hopeful on March 22, 2025 as Pope Francis prepares to make a first public appearance since he was hospitalized five weeks ago with double pneumonia.

The Vatican said Francis was planning to make his first public appearance from hospital on Sunday (March 23), offering a blessing from the window of his room around noon (1100GMT).

The 88-year-old pontiff was slowly regaining his strength but must "relearn to speak" after prolonged use of high-flow oxygen therapy, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez said on Friday (March 21).

Pope Francis will be discharged from hospital on Sunday (March 23) but will need a further two months of rest at the Vatican, the head of his medical team said on Saturday (March 22).

The pope has released just one brief audio of him speaking, on March 6, when his voice was broken, breathless and hard to understand.

Preparations began on Saturday (March 22) for the television broadcast of Pope Francis’ first public appearance in five weeks, which is planned for Sunday (March 23) from the window of his hospital room.

Catholic worshippers also gathered at a Buenos Aires church on Saturday (March 22) to celebrate the news of Pope Francis' scheduled discharge from hospital in Rome.

A Mass was held in his honour, with participants expressing gratitude and joy after receiving the news that the 88-year-old's health had improved to the point he could return to the Vatican.

(Production: Yvonne Bell)