Pope Francis has made an unexpected appearance at the Vatican's Palm Sunday Mass in St Peter's Square, less than a month after being discharged from hospital following a five-week battle with double pneumonia.
The pontiff was seen in a wheelchair smiling, waving and conversing with other cardinals during the surprise appearance. For the first time, Francis was also seen without supplemental oxygen delivered through a small hose under his nose.
"Happy Palm Sunday, Happy Holy Week," the pope said, before returning inside the Vatican, stopping occasionally to talk with the faithful, including a group of delighted nuns.
The pope also delivered a message on Sunday to followers of the Catholic Church.
"We all have sorrows, physical or moral, and faith helps us not to give in to despair, not to close ourselves off in bitterness, but to face them, feeling enveloped, like Jesus, by the providential and merciful embrace of the Father," the pope said in a message distributed by the Holy See Press Office.
"Sisters and brothers, I thank you very much for your prayers.
“At this time of physical weakness, they help me to feel God's closeness, compassion and tenderness even more.
"I, too, am praying for you, and I ask you to entrust all those who suffer to the Lord together with me."
The Vatican appearance was the 88-year-old pope's second since being discharged from Rome's Gemelli hospital, where he had been battling double pneumonia for more than a month.
He was admitted to hospital on February 14 for a bout of bronchitis that developed into double pneumonia.
It was an especially serious condition for him as he had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed.
Francis came so close to death during his 38-day hospital stay that his doctors considered ending treatment so he could die in peace, the head of his medical team said last month.
Doctors had prescribed the pope with a two-month period of rest at his Vatican residence after his release from hospital, to allow his ageing body to heal.
It is still not known how much he will participate in the forthcoming Holy Week - the most important week in the Church calendar which is packed with services and events.
British monarch King Charles III and Queen Camilla paid their own surprise visit to the pontiff earlier this week during their state visit to Italy.
A Vatican statement revealed the pope met the royal couple privately at the Casa Santa Marta and offered his best wishes for their 20th wedding anniversary, which they celebrated on Wednesday.
ABC/Reuters
