Pope Francis made a brief appearance in St. Peter’s Square this Sunday, at the end of Ramos Sunday Mass, greeting the crowd of his wheelchair while continuing to recover from double pneumonia.
“Happy Ramos Sunday, Happy Holy Week,” said the Pope, before returning to the Vatican, stopping occasionally to talk to the faithful, including a group of nuns.
Unlike last Sunday, when he had his first public appearance since he was discharged from the hospital three weeks ago, the Pope was not receiving oxygen through a small hose under the nose.
Francis, 88, was discharged from the hospital on March 23, after spending five weeks being treated from a pulmonary infection that his doctor later said he almost killed him.
His medical team encouraged him to take two months of rest, and the Pope initially remained in prison after returning home. However, in a sign that he may be feeling stronger, he made four unnamed apparitions last week and also met briefly with King Charles and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom.
It is not yet known how much he will participate in the next Holy Week, the most important week on the church calendar, full of services and events.
