After five weeks in hospital with pneumonia, the Pope has left hospital to prepare for two months of rest at the Vatican. Before beginning his recovery, he appeared from the window of his hospital room. Catch up here.
Sunday 23 March 2025 20:41, UK
We're now closing this live page, but you can scroll down to catch up on all the developments as the Pope returned to the Vatican.
You can also tap on the link below for a round-up.
The Pope is finally home after his health scare, but faithful are continuing to pray for his wellbeing.
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti - the archpriest of St Peter鈥檚 Basilica and vicar general of the Pope for Vatican City - led the daily prayers for him in St Peter鈥檚 Square earlier this evening.
Our Europe producer in Rome told us some of what he said:
"It is a great joy, the Pope has returned home and we want to thank God together with Mary," he started.
"We are gathered once again in prayer, united in heart and spirit for our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, whom the Church has awaited with great trust during this period of illness.
"His return home, here in the Vatican, in the heart of the Church, may be a sign of hope for all those who at this moment face with courage and trust the time of suffering.
"Our prayer, which has accompanied him in this month of trepidation continues and we implore the Lady to bless him with a rapid and complete convalescence, giving him back the strength and health to continue to lead the people of God with love and wisdom and vigour."
Italy's defence minister has expressed his "deep joy" at the Pope's discharge from hospital.
His message comes after the Pope was seen conversing with two soldiers outside the Vatican gates earlier (see post at 17.38).
"In a time marked by international tensions and crises, his spiritual guidance remains a fundamental point of reference," Guido Crosetto said.
"On behalf of the [Italian] Defence, I extend to His Holiness my best wishes for a peaceful return to Santa Marta."
Casa Santa Marta is his residence, where he will continue to recover.
By Lisa Holland, communities correspondent
It was a remarkable appearance in so many ways - magical for the crowds outside the Gemelli hospital, and of course also for the Pope, who thrives on interaction with the faithful.
Bear in mind this is an 88-year-old who has been fighting for his life and at one point during the last five weeks was in a critical condition with pneumonia in both lungs.
Even the Pope's own doctors said his life was in danger, yet he's currently on a steady path to recovery and has now left hospital.
But seeing the fragile pontiff on the balcony, while alert and giving the thumbs up, at one point he also looked uncomfortable and was struggling to breathe after just a few minutes before the crowd.
As he was driven back to the Vatican in his white Fiat Papal car, he was dependent on the use of nasal cannulas to supply him with oxygen.
This was the day it became clear the papacy will never be the same again.
Read more here...
The Pope is finally back where he belongs - at the Vatican - after spending over a month in hospital.
It's a momentous day for the pontiff and his dedicated supporters, coming after what was a serious health scare.
The 88-year-old was first admitted to hospital for a bout of bronchitis that developed into double pneumonia, caused by what his doctors called a "complex" infection involving several microorganisms.
During his 38 days in hospital, the Pope suffered four acute episodes of what the Vatican called "respiratory crises", which involved serious coughing fits caused by constrictions in his airways, similar to asthma attacks.
Two of the crises were critical, putting Francis "in danger of his life", Sergio Alfieri, the head of the Pope's medical team, told a press conference earlier.
While Francis no longer has pneumonia, he is also not completely healed, the doctor said.
Alfieri said it would also take time for him to regain full use of his voice, after battling a respiratory infection for so long.
72-year-old Carmela Mancuso wouldn't have expected to dominate the news today as she brought yellow flowers to the Pope to mark his discharge from hospital.
But that's exactly what's happened after she was singled out for her bouquet by the pontiff during his very brief remarks given from the hospital balcony.
He later took the flowers from Ms Mancuso, ensuring they were placed before the icon of the Virgin Salus Populi Romani at Santa Maria Maggiore - the Papal Basilica, his favourite place to pray.
Vatican News caught up with her after the pontiff's appearance, sharing a clip on social media.
You can watch the fully translated version of the video below...
By , Europe Producer in Rome
Some more information now on what the Pope did before finally returning to the Vatican.
Earlier we reported that he spoke to a dog walker as his car approached the Vatican grounds (see post at 12pm), but we've now heard that he also stopped and spoke to two soldiers just outside the gate entrance.
Italian defence sources told me the two soldiers are part of the Safe Streets Italian army operation, which is aimed at protecting "targets" around the country from terrorists attacks.
In this case, they're part of the counter terrorism security operation surrounding the Vatican.
The sources refused to release details on their names or ages, but they said they're members of the Italian Army Airmobile Brigade "Friuli", based in the city of Forli in Emilia-Romagna region (northern Italy).
Some individuals who made up the crowd surrounding the Pope's balcony earlier have been reflecting on what his first public appearance in five weeks meant to them.
Spanish nun Luisa Jimenez told AP it was "an important emotional experience to see him" with "so many people waiting for this moment".
She said there was so much "joy" despite how little he spoke, and that it has given those praying for him "confidence" that he will fully recover from his double pneumonia.
Binigi Machrine, a faithful from Uganda, said: "I was so, so happy. It has been a long wait. We have been praying, right from the point when I heard that he was sick, we started praying.
"I came here the very first day when he was hospitalized, I dedicated my prayer and I was so happy when I heard that he would come out to give us a blessing, so I am so happy, I am so excited."
David Allan, a tourist from Scotland, was also in the crowd. He said it was good to see the Pope "looking a bit better" and was happy to see him get out of hospital and back to his residence.
Columbian nun Angel Bernal Amparo said she was "happy" to see the pontiff but "at the same time, I felt sad because he didn't look well".
She said she was upset to see that he wasn't able to address the crowd much due to his health, but was ultimately "glad to have seen him".
Simon Nguyen, a faithful from Los Angeles, said he wasn't worried about the Pope because "he always has a sense of youth, also a sense of joy, a sense of spirit" which could be seen today.
Italy's foreign minister is among those who have welcomed the news that the Pope is back at the Vatican after spending five weeks in hospital.
Antonio Tajani said: "The return of the Holy Father to the Vatican fills my heart with joy.
"The faithful from all over the world gather in a warm embrace to Pope Francis."
The Gemelli hospital has just put out a statement to express their "joy" at the Pope's release.
He stayed in the hospital for little more than five weeks, where doctors and nurses cared for him in "an exemplary manner".
"Many sick people have reflected themselves in a suffering that Pope Francis wanted to share and not hide, confirming the profound humanity that distinguishes his entire magisterium," the hospital said, adding their "heartfelt wishes for his recovery".
"It is with these feelings of joy and filial devotion that the communities... express their gratitude to Pope Francis and assure him of their closeness and support in prayer."
