Pope Francis greeted the faithful without oxygen on Palm Sunday and asked for prayers for the victims of the Santo Domingo discotheque.
In an unexpected but deeply moving appearance, Pope Francis appeared this Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, kicking off the Holy Week celebrations at the Vatican.
Pope Francis appears on Palm Sunday
He did so in a wheelchair, without the support of oxygen, showing visible signs of recovery after a long convalescence.
It was his first major public appearance since his release from hospital on March 23, after 38 days in Rome’s Gemelli hospital for bilateral pneumonia and respiratory complications.
Despite medical recommendations suggesting rest, the pontiff has gradually resumed his schedule with brief but significant events.
A brief but powerful greeting
At the conclusion of the Palm Sunday mass, celebrated by Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, who read the homily on his behalf, the pope appeared at the main altar of the square to address a spontaneous greeting to the more than 20,000 faithful gathered.
“Good Palm Sunday, good Holy Week,” the pope said with a smile, visibly moved.
Without the nasal cannulas he had previously used, Francis walked through part of the square and stopped to personally greet a group of nuns, children and pilgrims, showing closeness and gestures of affection. The attendees responded with shouts of “Long live the pope!” and an ovation that filled the place with emotion.
A message of compassion and mercy
In his homily, read by Cardinal Sandri, the Pope focused his reflection on the profound meaning of Holy Week:
“The passion of Jesus becomes compassion when we reach out a hand to the one who can no longer bear it, when we lift up the one who is fallen, when we embrace the one who is bereaved.”
His Holiness also called to live this week with an inner and authentic focus:
“Brothers, sisters, to experience this great miracle of mercy, let us decide during Holy Week how to carry the cross; not around our necks, but in our hearts.”
Remembrance for the victims of the tragedy in Santo Domingo
During the Angelus prayer, which was published in writing due to his health condition, Pope Francis made a special gesture to those affected by the recent collapse of a discotheque in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where more than 200 people lost their lives.
May God welcome the victims of the collapse of a business in Santo Domingo into peace and support their families
Pope Francis
He also asked for prayers for all those suffering in the world, especially for those facing war, poverty or natural disasters.
Pope Francis and his desire for closeness
In recent days, the pope has also made other discreet but significant appearances, such as his visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and his wheelchair tour of the restoration in the area of St. Peter’s Chair. On those occasions, he appeared dressed casually, in a T-shirt, poncho and dark pants.
The Vatican issued a statement stressing that, despite his health condition, Francis remains firm in his desire to be present with the people, especially in moments of prayer and reflection such as Holy Week.
For the millions of Hispanic Catholics living in the United States, the image of Pope Francis without oxygen, smiling and waving from his wheelchair, represents a powerful message of spiritual strength and humility.
His call for compassion, solidarity and prayer in these holy days takes on special value in the midst of a world experiencing multiple crises, both social and personal.
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