Nelson Morales

This photo taken and handout on April 13, 2025 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Francis during a surprise appearance at the end of the Palm Sunday mass in The Vatican. Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP

This photo taken and handout on April 13, 2025 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Francis  during a surprise appearance at the end of the Palm Sunday mass in The Vatican. (Photo by Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / VATICAN MEDIA" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174454521046820250413120440_VaticanReligionPope.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="This photo taken and handout on April 13, 2025 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Francis during a surprise appearance at the end of the Palm Sunday mass in The Vatican. Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">This photo taken and handout on April 13, 2025 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Francis during a surprise appearance at the end of the Palm Sunday mass in The Vatican. <em>Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP </em></span></span></span></div><p>Pope Francis on Palm Sunday delighted worshippers with an impromptu tour of St Peter&#x27;s Square, against the advice of his doctors to avoid crowds while recovering from pneumonia.</p><p>For the second Sunday in a row after the longest hospital stay of his papacy, the 88-year-old pontiff left his Vatican quarters, handing out sweets to children and shaking hands while doing the rounds of the Vatican landmark.</p><p>While sat in his wheelchair, the Argentine appeared in rather good form, without the nasal cannula -- a plastic tube tucked into the nostrils -- used to help him breathe during his convalescence.</p><p>Since his release from hospital, the pope has ventured out on several occasions despite his doctors urging him to rest, with his surprise visits appearing on no official Vatican program.</p><p>On Thursday, he made an unscheduled visit to Saint Peter&#x27;s Basilica to inspect renovation work and to visit the tomb of Pius X, before making a trip on Saturday to pray at his favorite basilica, Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.</p><p>And after his planned meeting with King Charles III was initially cancelled due to his ill health, Francis welcomed the British monarch and Charles&#x27;s second wife Queen Camilla in private on Wednesday.</p><p>The extent of his participation in next week&#x27;s Easter celebrations -- the holiest period of the Christian calendar -- is however yet to be confirmed by the Holy See.</p><p>In his Sunday Angelus prayer, released by the Vatican, the pontiff thanked the flock for their prayers and issued his customary call for peace in the world.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LwyHCrYvOOs??si=ZGDEskgUIBKnt2gG&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Pope Francis on Palm Sunday delighted worshippers with an impromptu tour of St Peter's Square, against the advice of his doctors to avoid crowds while recovering from pneumonia.</p>

Pope Francis on Palm Sunday delighted worshippers with an impromptu tour of St Peter's Square, against the advice of his doctors to avoid crowds while recovering from pneumonia.

Recovering pope delights crowd in Vatican square

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Recovering pope delights crowd in Vatican square

Agence France-Presse

Published April 13, 2025 07:56 PM PHT

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Updated April 16, 2025 08:02 PM PHT

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Pope Francis

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