Pope Francis officiates the mass on Palm Sunday

Pope Francis arrives to celebrate Palm Sunday mass in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square on April 2, 2023, the day after he was released from the hospital for bronchitis. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis began the Palm Sunday celebration in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square, the first ceremony he presided over after being hospitalized for bronchitis.

On a cloudy morning, Francis toured the square aboard the popemobile dressed in a long ivory coat. In front of him, dozens of prelates and priests and tens of thousands of faithful filled the square with palms or olive branches in their hands.

Francisco, 86, received intravenous antibiotics during his three-day hospital stay. He had last appeared in St. Peter’s Square for his weekly hearing on Wednesday, before being taken to Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic later that day for unwell.

Palm Sunday began the pontiff’s busy schedule at Easter.

At the beginning of the mass, Francis took his place in a chair before the great obelisk as a procession of cardinals in bright red robes and other worshipers made their way through the square.

His voice sounded firm to start the ceremony, which recalls the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem before his crucifixion, which Christians commemorate on Good Friday.

The Vatican said Saturday that Francis would preside over the Holy Week ceremonies, which culminate in Easter Sunday mass in the square on April 9.

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