Pope's new spontaneous appearance fuels speculation about Easter

It was almost no longer a surprise: Pope Francis appeared in St Peter's Square on Palm Sunday. "Blessed Palm Sunday! Blessed Holy Week!", the 88-year-old wished the 20,000 or so people during his brief appearance at the end of the festive mass. Wearing a white robe and without oxygen cannulas, he had his carer Massimiliano Strappetti take him to the altar stage in front of the basilica in a wheelchair. He then exchanged a few words with those present and was taken to St Peter's Basilica.

There he prayed at the tomb of St Peter the Apostle and at the monument to Pope Benedict XV (1854-1922), as a video distributed by the Vatican shows. He also spoke to a man and his young daughter, to whom the Pope gave sweets. He also greeted Curia Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and the representative for World Children's Day, Father Enzo Fortunato, among others. Francis then left St Peter's Basilica with his staff through a side exit in the direction of his flat in the Vatican guest house Santa Marta.

Two months of rest - actually

The doctors had actually ordered the 88-year-old to take it easy for two months following his serious lung disease and 38 days in hospital. However, since his first surprise appearance exactly one week ago at the end of the Mass for the sick and medical staff in St Peter's Square, there is growing certainty that Francis will not miss his appearance at the Easter celebrations, the most important feast for Christians - especially in the current Holy Year.

In fact, the recovery of the Pope, who has been in office for twelve years, seems to be progressing: While he was still barely able to speak after his hospital discharge on 23 March, his words are now easier to understand. He is also no longer absolutely dependent on the oxygen cannulas in his nose, as his fifth surprise appearance in seven days showed.

On Saturday, Francis had visited his favourite church, Santa Maria Maggiore in the centre of Rome, to pray at the "Salus populi romani" icon. A video circulated by the media shows Francis, dressed in a white robe and carrying a bouquet of flowers, being pushed through the basilica in a wheelchair by his assistant. In contrast, the Pope was seen in unusual clothing during his spontaneous wheelchair tour in St Peter's Basilica on Thursday: He wore a kind of white long-sleeved vest with black trousers and was covered with a striped poncho. On Wednesday, he had - surprisingly for the media - received the British royal couple in his flat. The official royal visit had previously been cancelled due to the Pope's health.

The "Urbi et Orbi" blessing is due on Easter Sunday

According to the Vatican, the extent to which Francis will be able to take part in the dates of the "Settimana Santa" also depends on the weather. In the meantime, the Pope is being represented by his cardinals. Cardinal Leonardo Sandri presided over the Palm Sunday mass and gave the sermon written by the Pope. In it, Francis called on us to assume Christian responsibility for our fellow human beings. For example, Simon of Cyrene, who, according to the biblical Passion story, initially helped Jesus to carry the cross by force, did not speak but acted. People should stand up against injustice, war and misery. "Let us prepare ourselves for the Easter of the Lord by standing by one another like Simon of Cyrene," the Pope appealed.

In his text for the midday prayer, which, as in the weeks since his illness in mid-February, was only distributed in writing, Francis also made his usual appeal to work for peace. He also thanked the people for their prayers. "In this time of physical weakness, they help me to feel God's closeness, his compassion and his tenderness even more strongly." It remains to be seen to what extent he will be able to attend the numerous Holy Week events. In exactly one week's time, on Easter Sunday, the Pope will give his blessing "Urbi et Orbi" (To the City and the World), which he traditionally sends out to the whole world from the central loggia of St Peter's Basilica.