Pope Francis, who was hospitalized on Friday, February 14 with a respiratory tract infection that evolved into pneumonia, was discharged from the hospital on Sunday, March 23. He made a brief public appearance on the balcony of the hospital, appearing frail and speaking quietly.

Pope Francis has returned home to the Vatican after he was hospitalized for five weeks with a life-threatening bout of pneumonia.

The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalized for six weeks with pneumonia in both lungs. He will need to rest in the Vatican for at least two months, his doctors said.