Pope makes appearance for Palm Sunday mass

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Pope Francis has made an appearance in St Peter’s Square for Palm Sunday, as he continues to recover from a life-threatening battle with double pneumonia.

The pontiff greeted the 20,000-strong Vatican City crowd as he joined for mass, weeks after being released from hospital following a five-week stay.

Faithfuls reached out to touch the 88-year-old’s hand and garments as he was brought in a wheelchair down a ramp to the main altar, where he thanked supporters and wished them a “Good Palm Sunday, a good Holy Week”.

He was not wearing the nasal tubes for supplemental oxygen that he was still seen with at the Vatican a week ago – a reassuring sign as he continues his recovery.

On his way back to St Peter’s Basilica, the Pope stopped to bless a rosary, and offered sweets to a boy who greeted him.

In his traditional Sunday blessing, which has been delivered in text form since his hospitalisation in mid-February, he said: “At this time of physical weakness, they help me to feel God’s closeness, compassion and tenderness even more.”

He also offered prayers for those suffering in the conflict in Sudan, which marks its second anniversary on Tuesday, and for Lebanon, where civil war began 50 years ago, as well as for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, Congo, Myanmar and South Sudan.

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The Pope was admitted to hospital on 14 February for a bout of bronchitis that developed into double pneumonia.

It is a particularly serious condition for him as he had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed.

He was discharged on 23 March, after giving a short greeting to the crowd outside the balcony of the room he was staying in.

The pontiff made his first official appearance back in the public eye last Sunday, again briefly addressing the St Peter’s Square crowd, saying: “Happy Sunday to everyone. Thank you so much.”