Pope Francis Greets Faithful on Palm Sunday, Showing Recovery

Pope Francis made a public appearance in St. Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday, greeting over 20,000 faithful and signaling a positive step in his recovery from a bout of double pneumonia, Al Jazeera reports.

The 88-year-old pontiff, seated in a wheelchair and without supplemental oxygen, wished the crowd a “happy Palm Sunday, happy Holy Week.”

While the Vatican is yet to confirm his involvement in the upcoming Holy Week events leading up to Easter on April 20, citing doctors’ advice to avoid crowds, Francis expressed his gratitude for the prayers he received during his illness.

“At this time of physical weakness, they help me to feel God’s closeness, compassion and tenderness even more,” he said, urging the faithful to carry the cross “of those who suffer around us” at the start of Holy Week.

During the appearance, many people sought to touch the Pope’s hand or garments. Francis also offered prayers for those affected by conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, the Middle East, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, South Sudan, and Lebanon, marking the 50th anniversary of its civil war.

This was his second public appearance in St. Peter’s Square since his discharge from the hospital on March 23. He also recently met with Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla and toured St. Peter’s Basilica. Francis was discharged from Gemelli University Hospital in Rome after a five-week hospitalization, with doctors advising him to rest at the Vatican for two months.