Pope Francis enters the Basilica of San Pedro again before the surprise of the pilgrims

Pope Francis has again prayed to the Basilica of San Pedro this afternoon, around 17:30 (local time), and has met a group of pilgrims from the United States that recorded the moment with their mobile phones.

The Holy Father greeted them briefly with his right hand, while traveling through the Basilica in a wheelchair, accompanied by his nurse, Massimo Strapetti, and one of his secretaries. This time, the pontiff did not carry the nasal cannulas that until recently he needed continuously to breathe, which shows that he increasingly requires less support with oxygen.

The Vatican press office confirmed shortly after at 7:07 p.m. (Pope Francis’s visit “for a moment of prayer” and “to be close to the faithful who will celebrate the vigil of the Holy Night of Easter.”

Since he was discharged from the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic of Rome on March 23, the Pope has starred several surprise appearances, since at the moment he does not have a defined public agenda. For example, on April 10, it also appeared at the Basilica of San Pedro, after 1:00 p.m. (local time). On that occasion, he offered an unusual image: it was the first time he was seen in public without papal clothing. In the videos shared on social networks by the pilgrims, he saw it without the white or solido sotana, covered with a striped blanket.

The 88 -year -old pontiff has exceeded the most delicate phase of bilateral pneumonia, although it is currently in the fourth week of the eight of convalescence prescribed by doctors.

During this Holy Week, Pope Francis has delegated to different cardinals of the Roman curia the main liturgical ceremonies. However, Holy Thursday wanted to approach the Roman jail of Regina Coeli, located five minutes from the Vatican, in a new gesture of closeness to the prisoners.

Tomorrow, Sunday of Easter of Resurrection, the Pope has delegated Cardinal Angelo Comastri to celebrate the Mass in the Plaza de San Pedro, scheduled for 10:15 (local time). However, the Vatican does not rule out that it is the Pontiff himself – who continues to recover – who teaches the traditional apostolic blessing City and the World.

As indicated in the official Vatican brochure for Easter Mass, the blessing City and the World (To the city of Rome and the world), which is only taught in Holy Week and Christmas, is scheduled to be given by the Holy Father, who will look out to the balcony of the central lodge of the facade of the Basilica of San Pedro.