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Pope Francis made a rare public appearance on Thursday, visiting inmates at Rome’s Regina Coeli prison during Holy Week. This visit comes after a lengthy hospital stay last month for the 88-year-old pontiff.
Francis, who made the short trip from the Vatican, personally greeted around 70 inmates. He has made similar visits to the prison in the past, notably in 2018 when he celebrated the “In Coena Domini” mass and performed the traditional foot-washing ceremony.
While unable to perform the ceremony this year, the Pope addressed the inmates, expressing his desire to be close to them and offering prayers for them and their families. He then took the time to meet with each prisoner individually.
This appearance follows Francis’ recent release from Gemelli hospital in Rome where he was treated for bilateral pneumonia. Due to his ongoing recovery, the Vatican has announced that Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re and Angelo Comastri will preside over the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday masses, respectively.
On Wednesday, the Pope met with the Gemelli medical staff at the Vatican to express his gratitude for their care. Photos released by the Vatican showed the Pope in a wheelchair during the meeting, where he thanked the staff for their strength and service.