Recovering Pope out and about again at favourite Rome basilica

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis, continuing his recovery from life-threatening pneumonia, made a surprise visit on April 12 to his favourite Roman basilica, the Vatican press service said on Telegram.

It was a fourth unscheduled appearance in recent days for the 88-year-old Pope – including one at the Vatican’s Saint Peter’s Basilica on April 10 – despite doctors urging him to rest.

April 12 saw him “pray before the icon of the Virgin” at Saint Mary Major, the press service said, on the eve of Palm Sunday, as Christians enter Holy Week culminating in Easter Sunday in a week’s time.

The Argentine pontiff last week made an appearance at Saint Peter’s to greet faithful before on April 9 having an equally

unexpected private audience

with the visiting British royal couple of King Charles III and Queen Camilla – a tete-a-tete which had initially been cancelled on doctors’ orders.

April 10 saw him back at St Peter’s to inspect renovation work.

Francis, leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics since 2013, returned to his quarters in the Vatican on March 23 after five weeks in Rome’s Gemelli hospital to be

treated for double pneumonia.

On April 11, the Vatican said his voice and mobility were improving, but warned it was

too early to say

if he will take part in Holy Week preparations which culminate on Easter Sunday in a week’s time.

Even so, the Vatican said on April 11 that “the fact he is convalescing does not mean he cannot go out”.

However, Palm Sunday mass will be presided over by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri. AFP