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With throngs gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Jubilee of the Sick, Pope Francis made a surprise appearance. Sitting in a wheelchair and assisted by a nasal cannula, the pope briefly greeted the crowd, expressing his gratitude. He said, “A happy Sunday to you all, many thanks!”
The pope's appearance followed the closing Mass of the Jubilee, where his nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, wheeled him out to meet the attendees, prompting cheers. Doctors, some humorously sporting red clown noses, along with patients in wheelchairs, applauded the pope as he made his way through the crowd.
This marked Pope Francis's first public sighting since his discharge from Rome's Gemelli hospital on March 23, following treatment for breathing issues and double pneumonia. Before appearing outside, he visited St. Peter’s Basilica for confession and passed through the Holy Door, as reported by the Vatican press office.
The pope did not partake in the full Mass but sent his homily, read by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, which emphasized divine presence amidst human suffering. “God does not leave us alone,” he wrote, noting that vulnerability is shared by divinity through Christ's human experience.
The Jubilee anticipated about 20,000 pilgrims from over 90 countries, inclusive of healthcare professionals and those in need of care. Healthcare workers participated actively in the service, with some reading Scripture.
In his homily, Pope Francis highlighted pain as a potential source of learning love without conditions. He urged an inclusive societal approach to the weak, drawing on a quote from Pope Benedict XVI that critiques societies indifferent to suffering.
Following Mass, a Vatican publication released Pope Francis's message, where he shared personal reflections on illness, expressing his experience of divine care through hardship. He appreciated healthcare professionals, acknowledging their challenging working conditions, and advocated for better resources and inclusive health systems.
Pope Francis also called for urgent international attention to war-stricken areas, requesting an end to conflict and relief for affected populations. He named several regions, including Ukraine and Sudan, as in need of peace efforts.
