Then Pope Francis appeared on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica a few minutes after noon Roman time on Easter Sunday, the crowds roared.
The 88-year-old pontiff who for the last 12 years thrilled the masses had not disappointed: Despite bowing out of all official Holy Week liturgies following his five-week hospitalization for double pneumonia, the pope of the people was with his flock and would carry on the tradition of offering his Easter blessing.
For weeks, the Vatican had refused to speculate about the pope’s Holy Week plans. But the pope, who from the early days of his pontificate had earned a reputation as a maverick who set his own agenda, had been busy.
Despite a doctor-mandated two-month convalescence at his Vatican home, Francis made his first surprise appearance in St. Peter’s Square on April 6 at a special Mass for health care workers and the sick.
His voice was gravely and he only spoke a few words, but he appeared more healthy than when he was discharged from the hospital on March 23 and returned to the Vatican.
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With thanks to National Catholic Reporter and Christopher White, where this article originally appeared.
