Christians Begin Easter Celebrations
Good Friday commemorates the Passion and crucifixion of Jesus.
Good Friday commemorates the Passion and crucifixion of Jesus.
In the past few days, the pontiff has made one surprise appearance after another, most recently turning up in St Peter’s Square following mass for Palm Sunday, where he shook hands, blessed babies and waved to the crowds.
Since leaving Rome’s Gemelli hospital, Francis has not been seen in public, nor have any engagements been scheduled for the coming weeks.
The Church is accused of pressuring followers into making life-ruining donations, and blamed for child neglect among its members — although it has denied any wrongdoing.
Pope Francis remains stable after almost four weeks in hospital with pneumonia, the Vatican said on Tuesday, declining to speculate on when he might go home, the day after doctors indicated he was no longer in danger.
The leader of the world’s nearly 1.4 billion Catholics has been working on and off, and following the news where possible — including deadly floods that have hit his homeland of Argentina.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the Square, I accompany you from here,” Francis said in a message broadcast in St Peter’s Square.
The 88-year-old had used an oxygen mask overnight for a third time, the Holy See said.
The Argentine head of the Catholic Church was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 with bronchitis, which later developed into pneumonia in both lungs.
Pope Francis had a quiet night in hospital, the Vatican said Sunday, the morning after revealing the 88-year-old was in a “critical” condition.