Pope Francis left intensive care on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of worshippers in St. Peter's Square and give them a surprise tour in the popemobile, prompting loud applause and cheers as he continued to recover from a near-fatal case of double pneumonia.
“Viva il Papa!” (Long live the Pope), “Bravo!” people shouted as Francis drove through the square in his open popemobile and then along the main avenue leading to it.
At times he stopped to bless the babies brought to him – a scene that was common in the past but would have seemed unthinkable just weeks ago, when the 88-year-old pope was fighting for his life.
“Brothers and sisters, happy Easter,” Francis said, his voice stronger than at any time since his hospitalization.
The pope did not celebrate Easter Mass in the square, handing over that duty to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, a retired archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica.
However, after the conclusion of the Mass, Francis appeared on the balcony of the loggia above the entrance to the basilica and remained there for more than 20 minutes, then pronounced the apostolic blessing in Latin.
He was outside on a sunny spring day for about 50 minutes at 21°C in a square filled with daffodils, tulips and other flowers given to him by the Netherlands for Easter.
On his way to the basilica, Francis met briefly with US Vice President J.D. Vance, who was spending Easter in Rome with his family.
Francis has appeared in public only a few times since returning to the Vatican on March 23 after 38 days in hospital.
He missed the solemn services of Good Friday and Holy Saturday, which precede Easter.
Easter is the most joyful moment in the Christian liturgical calendar, when believers celebrate the resurrection of Christ after the crucifixion.
This year, Easter is celebrated by both Catholics and Orthodox Christians and was marked by Russia's announcement of a temporary Easter truce in the war in Ukraine.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
