Additional Coverage:
- Convalescing Pope Francis opens Holy Week with in-person greeting in St. Peter’s Square (nbcnews.com)
Pope Francis Offers Palm Sunday Greetings Amid Ongoing Recovery
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, continuing his recovery from a recent bout with pneumonia, greeted over 20,000 faithful in St. Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday.
The 86-year-old pontiff, looking stronger than in recent appearances, wished the crowd a “good Palm Sunday, a good Holy Week” as he was wheeled to the main altar. Notably, he was not using supplemental oxygen as he had last week.
While his public remarks were brief, the Pope’s presence clearly uplifted the crowd, many of whom reached out to touch his hand as he passed. He also took a moment to bless a rosary and offered candy to a young boy.
Although doctors have advised him to avoid crowds, Francis has made several recent appearances, including a meeting with King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and an unscheduled visit to St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Vatican has yet to announce the Pope’s schedule for the upcoming Holy Week events. He is now in his fourth week of convalescence following the serious respiratory illness. While eager to resume his duties, he has kept his public pronouncements brief during his recovery.
On the eve of Palm Sunday, the Pope privately visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major to pray before a cherished icon of the Virgin Mary. This basilica holds special significance for the pontiff, as it was his first stop after being discharged from the hospital on March 23rd.
In a prepared homily, read by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the Pope urged the faithful to remember the suffering of others, particularly during Holy Week. Cardinal Sandri, vice dean of the College of Cardinals, also led the traditional Palm Sunday procession around St. Peter’s Square.
The Pope’s Sunday blessing, delivered as a written text for the ninth consecutive week, expressed gratitude for the prayers of the faithful. He noted that their prayers provided comfort and strength during his illness. He also offered prayers for those suffering from conflict and unrest in various parts of the world, including Sudan, Lebanon, Ukraine, the Middle East, Congo, Myanmar, and South Sudan.