Convalescing pope aims to give Easter blessing – Vatican
VATICAN CITY, Holy See (AFP) — Pope Francis, who is recovering from a life-threatening bout of pneumonia, intends to give his Easter Sunday blessing, the Vatican indicated Thursday without specifying how or whether he would lead other celebrations.
The 88-year-old Catholic leader returned home to the Vatican on Sunday after spending five weeks in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, with doctors warning he needed at least two months of convalescence.
His fragile health has raised questions about his participation in celebrations for Easter, the holiest period in the Christian calendar which culminates with Easter Sunday on April 20.
The calendar for liturgical celebrations for the period, published by the Vatican on Thursday, makes no mention of the pope’s presence but does include the solemn blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world).
This is traditionally given by the pope from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter Sunday and on Christmas Day — and cannot be delegated to anyone else.
The Vatican confirmed that Holy Week celebrations, including the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome, would go ahead but did not specify who would preside over them.
Since Francis went into hospital, senior cardinals have taken his place in leading masses.
The Vatican press office said the pope’s possible participation in Easter events would be decided based on the evolution of his health “in the coming weeks”.
The canonisation on April 27 of Carlo Acutis, the world’s first millennial saint who died in 2006 aged 15, is still on the agenda. Only a pope can declare someone a saint.
Francis nearly died twice during his time in hospital, according to his doctors.
He appeared on the Gemelli balcony last Sunday shortly before he was discharged — his first appearance in public since February 14 — and thanked hundreds of pilgrims gathered below in a weak voice.
His admission was the most serious health scare for the pope, the spiritual leader of more than 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, since he became pontiff in March 2013.
