LOrena Araujo Piñeiro put the final touch to the restoration of the XVIIth century tomb of Pope Urban VIII, a dark bronze and gold monument in the Saint-Pierre basilica, when she noticed a man wearing a striped poncho top, black pants and no shoes, being pushed in a wheelchair.
“”He was around noon and the basilica was practically empty, “said Piñeiro, a restaurateur.” I had trouble recognizing who it was … I thought he was a simple pilgrim. It was as if he had just got out of bed.
The man in a wheelchair was Pope Francis, who had come to thank Piñeiro and his colleague, Michela Malfanti, for their work.
It was the second time in a few days that the pontiff, who almost died in February during a severe pneumonia, had made a surprise public appearance since leaving the hospital on March 23, defying the doctors to rest for at least two months. The first time, he appeared at Sunday Mass in St Peter’s Square. He also met a King Charles and a Queen Camilla in private during their state visit to Italy.
Francis delegated the cardinals to direct the liturgies of Holy Week, although he maintained Thursday’s tradition to visit the prisoners in Rome Regina Coeli prison, and should make another appearance during Easter Sunday.
But the basilica ride of his house next door in Casa Santa Marta was daring. Not only was it without its traditional papal dresses – something that thwarted the more conservative faction of the Catholic church – but Francis, which uses a nasal cannula to help it breathe, can easily be hugged with the two restaurateurs, as well as a child who was in basiline.
“”We hesitated to approach him because we thought he could have been a little ashamed because he was not officially dressed, “said Piñeiro.” But he didn’t care. He seemed to be a very happy and curious person.
The Vatican spokesman said the next day that the outings were proof that the health of the Pope was improving.
But there may be other reasons at stake. “”If you think back when he was elected Pope and decided to give up traditional clothes and live in Casa Santa Marta, he came as a Maverick, “said Christopher White, Vatican correspondent for the national Catholic journalist.” Now, at 88, and after a very serious hospitalization, he continues to be a fascic. “”
White believes that the reasons are double: “One, he really believes that being with people is the best medication. As a pastor, he has a duty to have been released and public orientation, “he said. “But I also think that there is a political calculation. He is politically clever and would have read the articles and all the endless speculation on his health, his resignation and his conclave possible. I think he is trying to channel fairly concrete ways to say” I am here and I am in charge “.
Pope Francis has pushed the limits throughout its papacy, for example in Iraq in 2021 despite his strong opinion because COVID-19 was still raging and that security risks were high. He revealed in his autobiography, Hope, published in January, that he had escaped a double bombardment of suicide during the trip after the attempts of his life were thwarted by British intelligence and the Iraqi police.
He launched more than 40 trips abroad and maintained a busy schedule before hospitalization.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Church is in the middle of a year of the jubilee, with millions of pilgrims visiting Rome. Another important event – the canonization of Carlo Acutis, the first holy millennium of the church – takes place on April 27.
“”He continues to push the limits to see how much he can do it, “said Robert Mickens, a Vatican commentator.” Whether it is a wise thing to do or not, it is to other people … But he realizes that he is very unlikely that he returns where he was before entering the hospital. Easter is a great holiday with many pilgrims who expect to see him, so he thinks: “Let’s do it”. »»
Javier Martínez-Brocal, a Vatican correspondent for the Spanish newspaper ABC, and author of the Conclave book: The Rules to elect from the next Pope, said that after the experience of the imminent death of Francis, the Pope just wanted to “live in the present”.
“He probably feels strong and thinks that it is useless to be locked up inside,” he said. “He therefore thinks that these are reasonable risks to take. He wants to show that he is always present and see how far he can push him.”
