Pope says 'thank you, everyone' as greets faithful from hospital

Pope Francis, 88, made his first public appearance since hospitalization by greeting and blessing the faithful from a balcony at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

"Thank you, everyone," he said in a weak voice into a microphone, expressing his gratitude to the hundreds of people gathered to see him. ​The Pope had been hospitalized since February 14 due to a severe respiratory infection, including double pneumonia, and had experienced two critical respiratory crises requiring extensive oxygen and ventilatory support.

Following his discharge, he prayed at St. Mary Major Basilica before returning to the Vatican. ​