Pope Francis delivered his Christmas Urbi et Orbi blessing in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on December 25, 2022 (photo by Andreas Solaro/AFP).
On Sunday, the 86‑year‑old pontiff presided over Mass in St. Peter’s Square, inaugurating the events that lead to Easter. He appeared in the popemobile a day after leaving the hospital, where he had been treated for bronchitis. His admission on Wednesday with breathing difficulties had raised concerns about his ability to participate in the crucial week of the Christian calendar, but he promised to be present. As he rode through a square adorned with more than 35,000 plants and flowers, he briefly waved to the roughly 30,000 people gathered.
Francis followed a procession of religious figures—including red‑robed cardinals carrying large palm leaves and olive branches—through the square. The Palm Sunday celebration marks Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, while Easter Sunday, this year on April 9, commemorates his resurrection.
After a three‑night stay at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, Francis emerged smiling on Saturday. When well‑wishers asked how he felt, he replied, “I am still alive!” Over recent years his health has declined, with knee problems that now require a wheelchair and walking stick. For the Mass, he was expected to remain seated while a cardinal conducted the ceremony, an arrangement the Vatican said had been planned before his latest illness because he can no longer stand for long periods.
Francis fell ill on Wednesday after a general audience in St. Peter’s Square, but his condition improved after receiving antibiotics. This hospitalization was his second since 2021, when he underwent colon surgery at the same hospital. His mounting health issues have fueled speculation about a possible retirement, though he has repeatedly said he would consider stepping down only if his health failed him.
Earlier this month, Francis marked ten years as head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He has pursued major governance reforms and sought a more open, compassionate Church, despite facing internal opposition, especially from conservatives. In January, he confirmed that diverticulitis—a condition that had required surgery during a ten‑day stay at Gemelli in July 2021—had returned. Nonetheless, he affirmed last month that he has no plans to quit.
Comments are closed for this story.