Pope Francis, in recovery after a severe pneumonia having threatened his life, will give his traditional blessing “Urbi et Orbi” Place Saint-Pierre for Easter Sunday, which falls this year on April 20, the Vatican announced Thursday.
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However, it was not specified if the sovereign Argentinian pontiff, 88, would be able to preside over the other celebrations, an unlikely hypothesis with regard to the very busy program of holy week.
After five weeks of hospitalization in Rome, the Pope returned Sunday to the Vatican where he pursued a convalescence of at least two months with motor and respiratory rehabilitation and without public activities.
The fragility of François, appeared weakened, the marked features and the frail voice when he left the Gemelli hospital, questions the faithful about his presence at Easter, the most important party of the year among Catholics.
The calendar of liturgical celebrations for this period, made public Thursday by the Vatican, includes the solemn blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (in the city of Rome and the world), given by the Pope of the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica every Easter Sunday.
If he confirmed the celebrations of Holy Week, including the Cross Stations at the Colosseum of Rome, the Holy See did not specify by whom they would be chaired.
The Press Service of the Holy See stressed that the possible presence of the Pope during Holy Week would be decided according to the evolution of his state of health “in the coming weeks”.
The sovereign pontiff can delegate the celebration of masses and ceremonies to other prelates – usually from cardinals – but only can ensure the blessing of “Urbi et Orbi”.
The Vatican also maintained the canonization of the Blessed Italian Carlo Acutis (1991-2006) on April 27, again without saying to what extent the Pope would participate.
With this hospitalization during which he almost lost his life twice according to his doctors, the spiritual guide of the 1.4 billion Catholics has experienced his most serious health alert since his election in 2013.