Pope Francis, who is recovering from a severe bout of pneumonia, marked Easter Sunday by blessing thousands of people who had gathered for mass in St Peter’s Square and then embarking on a surprise popemobile tour around the piazza.
The 88-year-old pontiff, who nearly died during his recent five-week stay at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, did not celebrate mass in the square, delegating the service instead to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica.
