Pope Francis Returns to Public Duties Following Bronchitis Recovery

During his first public appearance, the Pope prayed for those oppressed by injustice and poverty, and addressed the issue of violence against women.

Pope Francis made his first public appearance since his bronchitis diagnosis two weeks ago, which had forced him to cancel his trip to the COP28 climate conference in Dubai.
The Pope has been steadily recovering and kept a traditional appointment to pray at the Spanish Steps on the Dec. 8 holiday devoted to Mary.
During his public appearance, he prayed for 'all the people oppressed by injustice and poverty, tried by war,' and added a special prayer for 'the tormented Ukrainian people,' as well as Palestinians and Israelis 'who have fallen back into a spiral of violence.'
Francis also addressed violence against women, a topic that has resonated in Italy following the recent killing of a 22-year-old female student.
This is the second time this year that the Pope has had a serious case of bronchitis; he was hospitalized for three days in the spring to receive intravenous antibiotics.