Roman Catholics around the world were delighted when Pope Francis marked Easter Sunday by blessing thousands gathered in Vatican City’s St Peter’s Square and then went on a surprise tour of the piazza in his open-topped Popemobile.
Hopes rose that the 88-year-old pontiff had recovered from the double pneumonia that had left him close to death in hospital. Tragically, his appearance took on a very different significance yesterday (Monday), when the Vatican announced he had died hours later. With hindsight, it was remarkable that a frail pope completed what he wanted to do on such a symbolic day.
