Pope Francis is steadily regaining his strength, voice, and mobility following a serious bout of pneumonia, the Vatican confirmed on Tuesday. Th Francis is steadily regaining his strength, voice, and mobility following a serious bout of pneumonia, the Vatican confirmed on Tuesday. The 88-year-old pontiff, who was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli hospital on March 23 after a five-week stay, is currently convalescing at the Vatican under close medical supervision.

Despite doctors advising rest, the Argentine pope made a surprise appearance in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, where he was seen in a wheelchair, assisted by a nasal cannula providing oxygen. Speaking briefly into a microphone, he greeted well-wishers with a warm “good Sunday,” signaling a return of energy and spirit that had been absent during his illness.

“The situation remains stable with those improvements we saw last Sunday,” the Vatican press office reported, citing continued progress in his breathing, motor skills, and vocal strength.

Francis remains on high-flow oxygen therapy at night and intermittently during the day. He is said to be celebrating daily mass and gradually resuming light duties, including a private audience with Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Monday.

Although he remains in good spirits, the Vatican confirmed that the respiratory infection persists, requiring continued caution. His improving condition, however, prompted renewed optimism for a full recovery.

A scheduled audience with King Charles III, originally set to coincide with the monarch’s state visit to Italy, was postponed due to the pope’s health concerns.

Francis’s public reappearance, albeit brief, offered a powerful message of resilience as he navigates a critical phase of recovery.