Every day, a surprise. Also today, without any previous ad, Pope Francis appeared in the Plaza de San Pedro. In the Mass of Ramos Sunday his presence was not scheduled, but once again Jorge Mario Bergoglio broke the protocol greeting the faithful and pronouncing some brief words: “Good Holy Week”, with a somewhat fatigued, but smiling, firmer tone in their movements. This time, without the need for oxygen tubes. Today’s is another sign that the Pontiff, despite the convalescence, wants to be present in the celebrations of Holy Week. The unexpected gestures have been repeated in recent days: last Sunday, Francisco appeared in the Plaza de San Pedro to greet the faithful gathered on the occasion of the jubilee of the sick, and on Wednesday he received in Santa Marta the King Carlos III of the United Kingdom and Queen Camila. Unexpected apparitionsotra test occurred last Thursday, when the pontiff appeared in the Basilica of San Pedro without prior notice, without cassock, dressed in a poncho and common black pants, sitting in his wheelchair pushed by his assistants. Visitors and restaurateurs who were working inside the Basilica did not recognize it at the beginning. And also the video broadcast on social networks caused great impression by the total informality of the outfit, but also because of the good humor that the pontiff showed. Lee also “made us a signal so that we approached to greet him. At that time there was no one, because that area is closed to the public after the masses. We had not recognized it,” said the Spanish restorer Paula Rauco, who is finishing the recovery works of the bucket, the chair and the Tomb of Urban VIII. The explanation given by the Holy See of this episode is eloquent: “The Holy Father was giving, accompanied in a wheelchair, a walk through the inner garden of Santa Marta when he expressed the desire to go to pray to the basilica.” A sudden decision, which explains the clothes “to be home” and above all reveals the enormous desire Francisco has to return to contact with people. Given the many doubts about the risks that this implies, Vatican sources respond that “convalescence does not mean not leaving home.”
