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Overcoming health concerns, Pope Francis presided over one of the year's most important liturgies, Easter Sunday Mass, leading an audience of about 30,000 people in a flower-decorated St. Peter's Square. Served.
Just hours after celebrating a two-and-a-half-hour Easter Vigil, the 87-year-old Francis appeared in good spirits at the start of the liturgy in a deserted square.
Francis, who had part of one of his lungs removed when he was young, had been battling a respiratory illness all winter, which the Vatican and Francis said was bronchitis, the flu or a cold.
The Vatican said about 30,000 people attended the Mass, with even more crowding Via Conciliazione, which leads to the square.
At the start of the service, a gust of wind toppled a large religious icon on the altar just a few feet from the Pope. The usher quickly fixed it.
Easter Mass is one of the most important days in the liturgical calendar, celebrating what believers believe is the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion.
The Mass will be preceded by the Pope's “Urbi e Orbi'' (Blessing of the City and the World), which traditionally includes a long speech summarizing all the threats facing humanity.
In recent weeks, Mr. Francisco has generally avoided giving long speeches to avoid strain on his breathing.
He abandoned last week's Palm Sunday piety and decided at the last minute to stay home from the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum.
The Vatican said in a briefing that the decision was taken “to protect his health.”
The decision appears to have paid off, as Francis was able to recite the long Easter Vigil on Saturday night, administering the sacraments of baptism and first communion to eight new Catholics, and celebrating the Easter Vigil. I was able to preside over the Japanese Mass.
After a busy Holy Week, Francis will need time to recover, as he has no major overseas trips planned for several months.
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