During his brief appearance, Pontiff circulated around the square, squeezed the hand of the faithful and distributed sweets to the children
The convalescent of severe bilateral pneumonia made a surprise appearance in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican on Sunday (13), where he greeted the faithful and religious during the Sunday Mass of Ramos. The 88 -year -old Argentine pontiff appeared sitting in his wheelchair, with a very healthy look, without oxygen nasal cannulas. During his brief appearance, he circulated around the square and squeezed his hand of the faithful. He also distributed sweets to the children before wishing them a “happy Sunday and Happy Holy Week” at the altar in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Pope has made a series of surprise appearances in recent days, without these events setting up on his official agenda.
The first was last Sunday, in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. On Wednesday, he received King Charles III of England and Queen Camilla in a private audience, although the meeting was initially canceled. On Thursday, he visited the Basilica of St. Peter to see the works of the reform and pay his honors in the grave of Pius X, greeting the faithful and restorers along the way. And on Saturday, he prayed in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maior, his favorite basilica. In his Dominican Angelus prayer, broadcast on Sunday by the Vatican, the Pope thanked the faithful for his prayers and asked for world peace, with special thinking to the victims of the collapse of the nightclub in Santo Domingo.
The Pontiff has not celebrated this prayer since February 9, due to health problems and hospitalization. During the prayer, he also recalled that “April 15 will mark the sad second anniversary of the beginning of the conflict in Sudan, which caused thousands of deaths and forced millions of families to flee their homes.” “Let us not forget also Lebanon, where the tragic civil war began fifty years ago: with the help of God, who lives in peace and prosperity,” he added. The Pope also referred to other conflicts in prayer. “May peace finally come to tormented countries such as Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar and South Sudan,” he said.
The leader of the Catholic Church spent more than five weeks at Gemelli Hospital in Rome to treat pneumonia in both lungs. Convalescent since his return to the Vatican on March 23, he is still weakened by the disease, which left his life at risk and drastically reduced his activities. The doctors recommended two months of rest and, despite the improvement in health, nothing has been decided yet on their participation in the religious ceremonies of Holy Week.
Posted by Luisa Cardoso
*With information from AFP
