Pope Leaves Hospital Ahead Of Meeting King Charles

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

VATICAN CITY (Worthy News) – Pope Francis has appeared in public for the first time in five weeks after an extensive hospitalization and will soon meet British King Charles III, officials said.

The pontiff of more than 1 billion Catholics was wheeled onto a balcony of the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where he waved to thousands of pilgrims who had gathered and addressed them briefly, saying, “Thank you to everyone,” referring to the prayers of well-wishers.

An estimated 3000 people, many carrying bright flowers and “welcome home” posters, watched him from the hospital courtyard.

He made it a point of recognizing an Italian lady holding a bouquet of yellow flowers to celebrate his homecoming, saying he could see her and waving in gratitude.

As he struggled to speak, broadcasters read his Sunday reflection. In it, he appeals for the silencing of weapons in Gaza and the return of hostages.

“I am saddened by the resumption of heavy Israeli bombing on the Gaza Strip, causing many deaths and injuries. I call for an immediate halt to the weapons and for the courage to resume dialogue so that all hostages may be released and a final ceasefire reached,” he said.

Israel has made clear the air strikes are in response to Hamas’ refusal to release all hostages and are not aimed at civilians. However, Pope Francis highlighted the “very serious humanitarian situation” in the Gaza Strip and urged the warring parties and the international community to improve people’s lives there.

PRAYERS SAID

He also prayed for people suffering in other armed conflicts, such as in Europe’s biggest land war since World War Two unfolding in Ukraine.

At the same time, Pope Francis expressed his “gratitude” for steps taken toward peace in the South Caucasus, where Armenia and Azerbaijan are moving towards a finalized peace agreement. “May this be a sign of hope,” he prayed, “that other conflicts, too, may find a path to resolution through dialogue and goodwill.”

Francis said, “The Gospel of the day points to the image of the barren fig tree, spared from being cut down in the hope that it may still bear fruit. It is the same patience we are called to [by God to] cultivate in our daily lives, especially in times of hardship and uncertainty”, said the Pope.

After the remarks, the pope, 88, left the hospital in his usual white modest Fiat 500L vehicle but will need another two months to recover at home, the Vatican said.

Instead of a palace above St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, the pope chose to live in the Vatican guest house, Casa Santa Marta.

He is the first pope to refuse to live in the Papal Apartments since Pope Pius X in 1903.

The pope arrived in Vatican City ahead of a busy schedule, including meeting King Charles III.

CHARLES’ LETTER

Officials said the British monarch is scheduled to meet Pope Francis during a state visit to the Vatican next month, barring any setbacks in the pope’s recovery from double pneumonia.

The palace separately confirmed that Charles wrote privately to the pope when he was taken ill. Francis, 88, has been hospitalized since February 14.

The visit to the Vatican is seen as symbolic of efforts to build closer ties between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, which split from Rome in the 16th century during the reign of King Henry VIII.

Charles, the head of the Church of England, has made building bridges between people of all faiths “a priority” since he ascended the throne two and a half years ago.

Charles’ three-day trip begins April 7 and will also include events in Italy and its capital, Rome, which surrounds Vatican City, officials said.

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