Pope makes first appearance from Rome hospital ahead of return to the Vatican

Pope Francis made his first public appearance in weeks (Domenico Stinellis/AP)

Pope Francis appeared on a hospital balcony Sunday to bless the crowd in his first public outing in five weeks, minutes before he was discharged from hospital after surviving a life-threatening bout of pneumonia.

The 88-year-old pope gave a thumbs up and acknowledged the crowd after he was wheeled out onto the balcony overlooking the main entry of Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where hundreds of people had gathered on a brilliant Sunday morning.