He Pope Francis surprised again with a Unexpected appearance And unusual, since this Thursday afternoon, he entered the San Pedro Basilica Without their pontifical clothing, wearing black pants, white shirt and a kneeling on their legs, next to their nasal cannulas visible The images, which They circulated quickly by social networks, caused impact between Vaticanistswhich initially believed that it was manipulated content.
Accompanied by your medical assistants Massimiliano Strappetti and Andrea Rinaldithe pontiff of 88 years He moved in a wheelchair through some sectors of the temple. This new public appearance joins the one made last Sunday, when it was presented at the San Pedro Square for the closure of the Mass for the Pavilee of the sick.
Despite what Your health is still delicatePope Francis was smiling and in an affectionate attitude with those who approached him. At one point, he invited a child to approach and asked: “What’s your name?”, In a firm tone and clear voice, a gesture that reflected advances in their rehabilitation.
Pope Francis’s visit to the Basilica of San Pedro
The information was confirmed by Vatican Newsthe official portal of the Vaticanwhich explained that the visit to the Basilica occurred around 13 and lasted less than ten minutes. As reported, the Pope came to pray before the tomb of San Pío X.a pontiff with whom it is associated spiritually.
He also made a brief stop at the monument of Benedict XVthe Pope during the World War Iand in the restored tombs of Paul III and Urban VIII.
The scene caused COnMotion between those who were in the place. “The Pope is here! The Pope is here!” Some women shouted excited to see him.
About one hundred people, including pilgrims JubileeTemple workers and tourists, tried to get away to greet him. The spontaneous gesture unleashed a strong emotional load In many of those present.
“Too much emotion, my vision clouded by tears and I couldn’t even take a picture,” he said Monsignor Valerio Di PalmaCanon of San Pedro, to the media of the Vatican. As he explained, when he heard the shock he left the sacristy and saw the pontiff cross the Prayer door Rumbo to Chair altarbefore reaching the tomb of San Pío X.where he prayed a few minutes. Then he greeted those who could, within his possibilities.
“Francisco They introduced people with a blanket on their legs to protect themselves from the cold and nasal cannulas for oxygen, ”he said Vatican News. “We were moved to see it like this, civil, simple. Everyone cried, even security guards,” said a witness who was not identified.
The health of Pope Francis
Before he received the medical discharge on March 23, Gemelli Hospitalthe cardinal Víctor Manuel “Tucho” FernándezPrefect of DICASTERY FOR THE DOOR OF FAITHhe had already anticipated that the recovery of the Pope would mark a new stage.
“I think that now a new Pope begins, a new stage of Pontificate and he is a man of surprises and surely he will have learned many things in this month and the galley will come out who knows what things,” said the cardinal before journalists.
After his hospitalization of 38 days for one bilateral pneumoniawhich according to his environment put it “twice on the edge of death”, the Dad maintained a period of strict isolation in his residence of Santa Martawithout receiving visits. This public reappearance confirmed the beginning of a more flexible and close phase, although still with medical restrictions.
The decision to leave without his pontifical attire generated confusion even within the ecclesiastical environment. Some pointed out that, probably, the walk to the Basilica It was resolved suddenly, without prior planning. The fact that he did it with a blanket on his legs and without cassock also allowed to see a rare side of the pontiff, that of a fragile, but serene man.
These types of gestures, as spontaneous as symbolic, could feed new criticism by the most conservative sectors within the Church, which are already uncomfortable with several of the decisions that are making Francisco. However, for many faithful, this Thursday’s scene offered a deeply human and close image of the Pope.
Source: Ambito
