Pope's health falters amid Palm Sunday Mass, prays for peace in war‑torn regions
An unusual situation occurred during the Palm Sunday Mass in the Vatican. The Pope did not read the homily, which has been attributed to Francis' prolonged illness.
25 March 2024 19:44
Approximately 30,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square to participate in the Palm Sunday Mass commemorating Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. The ceremony commenced with a procession featuring olive branches and palms.
At the start of the liturgy, Pope Francis spoke in a weakened voice. He only managed to read parts of the mass before deciding against delivering the prepared homily.
After the mass, Francis delivered his weekly Sunday address during the Angelus and imparted his blessing.
The Pope prays for the victims of the attack in Russia
Speaking to more than 30,000 faithful before the closing prayer of the Angelus, the pope said, "I assure my prayers for the victims of the vile terrorist attack carried out the night before last in Moscow. May the Lord accept them in His peace and comfort their families."
"- And may it convert the hearts of those who (...) organize and carry out these inhumane actions, offending God, who commanded: thou shalt not kill," emphasized Francis.
He also urged the faithful to pray: let us pray for all our brothers and sisters who suffer because of war. Specifically, he mentioned tormented Ukraine, where many are without electricity following intense attacks on infrastructure. These attacks cause death and suffering and risk triggering an even greater humanitarian disaster.
"- Please, let's not forget about tormented Ukraine. And let's also think about Gaza, which is suffering greatly, and so many other places where there is war," the pope appealed.
Following the mass, he approached the faithful and greeted them.
The health of the pope
On February 24, the Vatican announced that the 87-year-old pope was experiencing "mild flu symptoms." The pope later revealed during one of the audiences that he has bronchitis. Additionally, he was hospitalised for tests to rule out any lung complications.
The health of the 87-year-old is a concern among the faithful, marking another instance of respiratory infections in recent months.
The Pope's health issues became more pronounced toward the end of February. At that time, the Holy See released a brief statement stating that due to a "mild flu," the pope would be canceling his scheduled audiences.
Source: PAP
