Pope Francis delights Vatican crowd with Easter Sunday popemobile tour

Belfast Telegraph - 20/04
Pope Francis emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless the thousands of people in St Peter’s Square and treat them to a surprise popemobile drive through the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause as he continues his recovery from a near-fatal bout of double pneumonia.

“Viva il Papa!” (Long live the Pope), “Bravo!” the crowd shouted as Francis looped through the square in his open-topped popemobile and then up and down the main avenue leading to it.

He stopped occasionally to bless babies taken up to him, a scene that was common in the past but unthinkable just a few weeks ago as Francis, 88, fought for his life.

Pope Francis tours St Peter’s Square in his popemobile (Andrew Medichini/AP)

“Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter,” Francis said, his voice sounding stronger than it has since his admission to hospital.

Francis did not celebrate Easter Mass in the piazza, delegating it to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica.

But after the Mass ended, Francis appeared on the loggia balcony over the basilica entrance for more than 20 minutes and imparted the apostolic blessing in Latin.

He was outside on a sunny spring day for about 50 minutes, with temperatures at 21C in a piazza awash in daffodils, tulips and other flowers donated by the Nether...
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