Pope Francis reappears in the Plaza de San Pedro for the jubilee of the sick

Pope Francis, who continues convalescent in Santa Marta, his residence in the Vatican, where he returned two weeks ago, after being admitted 38 days at the Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital in Rome with bilateral pneumonia, he reappeared this Sunday in the Plaza de San Pedro by surprise.

In a wheelchair and accompanied by his personal nurse, Massimo Strappetti, the pontiff reached the main altar, where the pre-effect of the Dicasteria for evangelization, Mons.rino Fisichella, celebrated in his name the Mass for the jubilee of the sick, one of the great events planned for the Holy Year. He then blessed, not without difficulty, the faithful present in the Plaza de San Pedro.

In any case, the Holy Father even brought strength to pronounce a few words:

“Happy Sunday, thank you all!” He said in the fatigued voice and breathing problems when the microphone approached him.

The Holy Father crossed the cordoned hall that divided one of the areas of the Plaza de San Pedro where hundreds of faithful were gathered, who received him with great enthusiasm and exulting happiness to see him.

As can be seen in the photographs, the Holy Father carried at all times the nasal cannulas through which he receives oxygen at specific times of the day, since, for the moment, he is not able to breathe autonomously.

This is one of the main consequences that has left the bilateral pneumonia that, according to the latest medical updates of the Vatican, is referring. Another consequences is voice loss, something normal according to doctors in this aggressive ailment, which, in any case, is reversible. Healthmen trust Pope Francis to recover the speech “in a short time.”

As reported by the Vatican, before greeting the faithful, the pontiff “received the sacrament of reconciliation in the Basilica of San Pedro, met in prayer and crossed the holy door.”

The Pontiff received the medical discharge of the Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital, where he was admitted almost forty days with a serious infection that endangered his life twice, just 15 days ago, on March 23.

On that occasion, Pope Francis, before returning to the Vatican, appeared for just over a minute to the fifth floor of the Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital in Rome to greet and bless the faithful. From that moment, I had not reappeared in public.

The Holy See for the moment has not ruled on the possible presence of Pope Francis in the Rites of Holy Week. The press office has indicated that “it is still premature to talk about it” and has assured that it will offer details later.