Pope Makes Unexpected Appearance at Mass in St. Peter’s Square

On Sunday morning, Pope Francis unexpectedly showed up at St. Peter's Square for a special Jubilee Mass dedicated to the sick and healthcare providers.

The pope, who arrived at the square seated in a wheelchair, was holding his first public event at the Vatican after being discharged from the hospital just two weeks prior.

As he approached the altar at the square, he greeted the crowd with a wave. "A wonderful Sunday to all of you," said the pope. "I am deeply grateful."

The pope’s voice was more resonant and powerful compared to when he addressed people outside Gemelli Hospital on March 23, the day he was discharged. During his five-week stay, he had been fighting severe pneumonia which posed a serious threat to his health.

During his own composition of the Angelus Sunday prayer, which was recited by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the Pope stated, "My thoughts go out to medical professionals, caregivers, and healthcare staff members who often find themselves working under suboptimal circumstances and can occasionally become targets of violence."

Their task is challenging, and they deserve support and respect. I trust that adequate funding will be allocated for therapy and investigation, ensuring that medical services are comprehensive and responsive to the needs of the underprivileged and vulnerable populations.

He similarly expressed gratitude to the inmates at Rome’s Rebibbia women's prison, who had dispatched a get-well card to him. He penned that he prays for them and their loved ones, then went on to express his desire for peace in conflict-ridden areas along with increased support for Myanmar and Haiti.