Pope Francis appears on Easter Sunday to cheers as he recovers from pneumonia
Pope Francis emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of people in St. Peter's Square and treat them to a surprise popemobile romp through the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause as he continues his recovery from a near-fatal bout of double pneumonia.
Related video above: Why does the date of Easter change every year?
바카라 게임 웹사이트Viva il Papa!바카라 게임 웹사이트 (Long live the pope), 바카라 게임 웹사이트Bravo!바카라 게임 웹사이트 the crowd shouted as Francis looped through the square in his open-topped popemobile and then up and down the main avenue leading to it. He stopped occasionally to bless babies brought up to him, a scene that was common in the past but unthinkable just a few weeks ago as the 88-year-old pope fought for his life.
바카라 게임 웹사이트Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!바카라 게임 웹사이트 Francis said, his voice sounding stronger than it has since he was released from the hospital March 23 after a five-week stay.
Francis didn't celebrate the Easter Mass in the piazza, delegating it to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St. Peter바카라 게임 웹사이트s Basilica. But after the Mass ended, Francis appeared on the loggia balcony over the basilica entrance for more than 20 minutes and imparted the apostolic blessing in Latin.
The crowd of people below, estimated by the Vatican to be more than 35,000, erupted in cheers as a military band kicked off rounds of the Holy See anthem.
In all, Francis was outside on a sunny spring day for around 50 minutes, with temperatures at 21 degrees Celsius (70 Fahrenheit) in a piazza awash in daffodils, tulips and other flowers donated by the Netherlands for Easter.
바카라 게임 웹사이트It is excellent, a miracle,바카라 게임 웹사이트 said Margarita Torres Hernandez, a pilgrim from Mexico who was in the square. 바카라 게임 웹사이트Now that he has come out, for me it바카라 게임 웹사이트s a miracle. It바카라 게임 웹사이트s something very big, very beautiful.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Pope met briefly with US Vice President Vance
On his way to the basilica, Francis met briefly in his hotel with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who was spending Easter in Rome with his family. The Vatican said the encounter lasted just a few minutes and was designed to allow for an exchange of Easter greetings.
Francis, for his part, gave Vance three big chocolate Easter eggs to give to his three young children.
바카라 게임 웹사이트I know you have not been feeling great, but it바카라 게임 웹사이트s good to see you in better health,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Vance told the pope. 바카라 게임 웹사이트Thank you for seeing me.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Francis is recuperating from a lengthy hospital stay
Francis has only appeared in public a handful of times since returning to the Vatican after a 38-day hospital stay. He skipped the solemn services of Good Friday and Holy Saturday leading up to Easter, but he had been expected to make an appearance Sunday.
Doctors have prescribed two months of convalescence and respiratory therapy to improve his lung function after he came down with a life-threatening case of double pneumonia. He still seems to require great effort to project his voice, and his breathing remains labored. But his voice sounded stronger than it has to date in the few words he uttered from the loggia.
바카라 게임 웹사이트It was a very touching moment for us (to see the pope)," said Marcin Popowsky, a pilgrim from Poland. "And we are very happy that we can see a pope in good shape.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Easter is a moment of joy for Christians
Easter is the most joyful moment on the Christian liturgical calendar, when the faithful celebrate the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion. This year, Easter is being celebrated on the same day by Catholics and Orthodox Christians.
Easter at the Vatican traditionally involves a Mass and the pope바카라 게임 웹사이트s Urbi et Orbi blessing (Latin for 바카라 게임 웹사이트to the city and the world바카라 게임 웹사이트), a papal speech delivered from the loggia that is usually a roundup of global hotspots and human suffering.
In the speech, read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of liturgical ceremonies, Francis appealed for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as Congo and Myanmar and in other hotspots. And he made a special appeal for migrants and those affected by violence.
바카라 게임 웹사이트How much contempt is stirred up at times toward the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants!바카라 게임 웹사이트 the message said. 바카라 게임 웹사이트On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas! For all of us are children of God!바카라 게임 웹사이트
Before Sunday, Francis' biggest outing had been a visit to Rome바카라 게임 웹사이트s downtown prison to spend Holy Thursday with inmates. The visit made clear his priorities as he slowly recovers: to spend time with the people most on the margins.
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP바카라 게임 웹사이트s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
