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As entrances go, this one was both unexpected and welcome. That much was clear from the thunderous applause and cheers on Sunday as Pope Francis made his first public appearance since leaving a Rome hospital two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
Francis arrived, unannounced, on the dais in St. Peter\u2019s Square near the end of a Mass that was part of a pilgrimage by health care workers and their patients.<\/p>\n
The pope said very few words, his voice still strained after a six-week hospital stay for pneumonia and other problems that his doctors said twice brought him close to death<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHappy Sunday to everyone, many thanks,\u201d Francis said, waving his hands. A nasal cannula was visible in both nostrils; Francis continues to rely on supplemental oxygen, the Vatican has said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Sitting on a wheelchair pushed by his trusted nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, Francis moved through groups of pilgrims \u2014 including dozens of doctors and nurses from around the world \u2014 who had come the Vatican on Sunday for this weekend\u2019s Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a wonderful surprise \u2014 the pope still has health problems but he wanted to give a gift to the faithful,\u201d said Lamberto Rosa, a businessman who volunteers with the Order of Malta at some Vatican events. \u201cHe has a fighting spirit and wants to be present.\u201d<\/p>\n Francis has made physical closeness to his flock, dramatic gestures and a freewheeling style the hallmarks of his pontificate, and his appearance on Sunday suggested that he was determined to carry on with that approach despite his physical limitations.<\/p>\n Since leaving the hospital in March, he has been living in his suite on the second floor of the Vatican guesthouse he calls home. The Vatican press office has repeatedly said that Francis has not been receiving visitors as he convalesces, though it reported on Friday that his speech was improving.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n