Pope Francis Returns to St. Peter’s Square with Easter Blessings After Health Scare

After a challenging fight with double pneumonia, Pope Francis made a triumphant return to St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday. Emerging to a throng of enthusiastic supporters, the Pope took a surprising popemobile ride around the piazza, greeted by exuberant cheers and applause as he showed signs of recuperating from his health ordeal. The crowd enthusiastically shouted “Viva il Papa!” and “Bravo!” as Francis circled the square in his iconic open-top vehicle, occasionally pausing to bless infants, a heartening sight that seemed unlikely during his recent health battle.

Though he delegated the role of leading the Easter Mass to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope did grace the crowds with his presence after the service. He appeared on the loggia balcony above the basilica entrance, where he spent over 20 minutes delivering the apostolic blessing in Latin. Below, an estimated gathering of more than 35,000 erupted with joy as a military band began playing the Holy See anthem.

In his Easter address, which was delivered by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Vatican’s master of liturgical ceremonies, Pope Francis extended calls for peace in conflict-stricken areas such as Gaza, Ukraine, Congo, Myanmar, and other global hotspots. His message resonated across the vast assembly of devoted followers gathered to witness his return to the public eye.