Prayers for Pope Francis came not only from Catholics and Christians but also from people of other faiths. Even those who do not believe sent him good thoughts and wishes. It was for this vast community of prayer that he offered a brief greeting from the balcony of Gemelli, moments before returning to the Vatican.
A Moment of Gratitude
Just before stepping onto the hospital balcony, Pope Francis—grateful for the care he had received—personally greeted the staff and leadership of the Catholic University and Gemelli Polyclinic.
Then came a gesture of gratitude to the faithful gathered outside, and through them, to all those who had supported him during these weeks. From the fifth-floor balcony, his face showed signs of fatigue. Sitting with his hands on his knees, he slowly raised them in blessing and gave a thumbs-up. As he heard the crowd chanting "Francesco! Francesco!", a faint smile appeared.
"Thank you, everyone!" he said in a soft voice. While only a brief wave had been expected, he insisted on speaking as well. His gaze moved across the square until it settled on a particular sight: Carmela Mancuso, holding a bouquet of yellow flowers. She had been there almost every day for over a month, just as she often was at the Wednesday general audiences.
“And I see this lady with the yellow flowers! She’s wonderful!” Pope Francis exclaimed.
The crowd erupted into applause and cheers of "Viva il Papa!" Meanwhile, Carmela bowed her head, overwhelmed with emotion.
"I don't know what to say. Thank you, thank you, thank you—to the Lord and to the Holy Father. I never imagined I would be noticed," she later told Vatican media.
The Pope’s Return to the Vatican
After leaving the balcony, the crowd rushed toward the hospital entrance to witness the Pope’s departure. As his car pulled away, cheers and blessings accompanied him.
His first stop was St. Mary Major Basilica, a tradition he has never failed to observe—whether returning from an international journey, an operation, or a hospital stay. There, he entrusted a bouquet of yellow flowers—the very ones given to him by Carmela—to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, asking that they be placed at the feet of the icon of Salus Populi Romani in thanksgiving.
From St. Mary Major, the Pope proceeded to Casa Santa Marta, his residence in the Vatican. As he entered, he greeted the military guards at the Perugino entrance, marking the end of his journey back home.
A Time of Reflection
Andrea Tornielli, Editorial Director of the Dicastery for Communication, captured the emotion of these days:
"We lived these long days of suffering with the Bishop of Rome. We waited, we prayed. We were moved when, on March 6, Pope Francis made his weak voice heard for the first time. We were comforted on the evening of March 16 when we saw him again, even if only from behind."
Tornielli reflected on the tension and trust that defined these weeks:
"After so much concern—but also deep faith in the One who gives us life and can call us to Himself at any moment—we saw him again. On the day of his return to the Vatican, we received his blessing once more.
From his hospital room, Pope Francis reminded the world that life is always worth living—every moment is valuable, and every moment may demand something from us. He also showed that suffering and weakness can become a powerful witness to the Gospel, proclaiming a God who became man, suffered with us, and accepted even death on the cross.
We thank him for telling us that from his hospital bed, war appeared even more senseless. We thank him for reminding us that we must disarm the world, not rearm it with new instruments of death. We thank him for offering his prayers and suffering for peace, which is so threatened today."
Welcome home, Holy Father!
Source: Vatican News
