Pope Francis opened the celebration Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday, presiding at his first ceremony after his hospital stay for bronchitis.
VIDEO: Pope Francis released from hospitalpresided over Mass in St. Peter's Square before tens of thousands of faithful on Palm Sunday, a day after he left a Rome hospital where he was treated for bronchitis.
He took his place there after standing and clutching a braided palm branch in a popemobile that drove at the tail end of a long, solemn procession of cardinals, other prelates and rank-and-file Catholics. Each participant carried palm fronds or olive tree branches. His voice sounded strong as he opened the Mass, but quickly turned strained. Despite the hoarseness, Francis read a 15-minute-long homily, occasionally adding off-the-cuff remarks for emphasis or gesturing with a hand.
Deviating from his prepared speech, Francis spoke about a homeless German man who recently died, “alone, abandoned,” under the colonnade circling St. Peter's Square, where homeless persons often sleep.Concern over abandonment threaded through his homily. “Entire peoples are exploited and abandoned; the poor live on our streets and we look the other way; migrants are no longer faces but numbers; prisoners are disowned, people written off as problems,” Francis said.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pope Francis Expected at Palm Sunday Celebration in St. Peter's Square Following Hospital StintPope Francis is expected to be discharged on Saturday from the Rome hospital where he is being treated for bronchitis as his recovery proceeds in a “normal” way, even had pizza and will be in St. Peter’s Square for Palm Sunday Mass, the Vatican said.
Read more »
Pope Francis attends Palm Sunday service after hospital stayPope Francis attended a Palm Sunday service in St Peter's Square, a day after he was discharged from hospital following successful treatment for a severe bout of bronchitis.
Read more »
Filipino Catholics mark Palm Sunday praying for Pope Francis' healthThousands of Filipino Catholics attending church on Palm Sunday marked the beginning of Holy Week with prayers for the health of Pope Francis as they presented palm fronds to be blessed.
Read more »
Pope Francis attends Palm Sunday service after hospital stayPope Francis attended a Palm Sunday service in St Peter’s Square, a day after he was discharged from hospital following successful treatment for a severe bout of bronchitis.
Read more »
Palm weaving workshops join faith, culture for Palm SundayChristians around the world will be getting blessed palm branches at Palm Sunday services, which start the church’s most solemn week
Read more »
Pope to leave hospital, take part in Palm Sunday services, says VaticanPope Francis is expected to soon leave the hospital in Rome where he is staying and take part in the Palm Sunday service in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced on Friday.
Read more »