Pope Paul makes his first public appearance since surgery on the balcony over Saint Peter's square. 25,000 hear him give thanks and bless the vast throng. Saint Peter's Square, Vatican, Rome, Italy A man stands on a box to take a picture. Thousands gather in Saint Peter's Square. Pope Paul stands in a window slowly waving at the religious onlookers. They clap and make the sign of the cross. He to makes the sign of the cross.