Pope Francis is expected to bring joy to Catholics around the world during Easter celebrations at the Vatican on Sunday, just weeks after a severe bout of pneumonia left him hospitalized and fighting for his life.
The 88-year-old pontiff has been recovering since being discharged from hospital on March 23, following a 38-day stay during which he received intensive treatment.
Despite lingering weakness in his voice, Pope Francis is expected to deliver the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” benediction from the balcony overlooking Saint Peter’s Square at midday (1000 GMT) — a highlight of Easter Sunday and the most significant celebration on the Christian calendar.
Although the Vatican has not officially confirmed his full participation, the Holy See’s press office has indicated that the Pope is likely to be present for the Easter events, depending on his health condition at the time.
While the Pope has recently made two public appearances without the nasal cannula he had been using for oxygen, he may still delegate the reading of his Easter message — which typically addresses global conflicts and humanitarian crises — to another official.
This Easter marks the first time since his election in 2013 that Pope Francis has missed the majority of Holy Week events. He was absent from Good Friday’s Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum and Saturday night’s Easter Vigil at Saint Peter’s Basilica, with cardinals standing in for him.
Nevertheless, the Pope made a brief appearance at the Basilica on Saturday, greeting pilgrims and visitors, a moment that gave hope to many about his improving condition.
Over 300 cardinals, bishops, and priests are expected to attend Sunday’s Easter Mass, which will commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Saint Peter’s Square will be adorned with thousands of flowers, and this year’s event is anticipated to attract even larger crowds due to the Jubilee Year — a “Holy Year” observed once every 25 years that brings tens of thousands of pilgrims to Rome.
Adding to the occasion’s significance is the presence of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who is in Rome for the weekend. On Saturday, he held meetings with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.
During Holy Week, Pope Francis has adhered to doctors’ orders to rest and avoid public duties. His sole official engagement was a quiet visit to a Roman prison, where he skipped the traditional foot-washing ritual — a symbolic act mirroring Jesus Christ’s humility in washing the feet of his disciples.
When asked by a journalist after the prison visit how he was coping with Easter in his current condition, the Pope responded with a smile and a raspy voice:“I am living it as best I can.”
Sources close to the Vatican revealed that during his recent illness, the Pope came close to death twice, underscoring the seriousness of his condition.
This year’s Easter is especially notable as it falls on the same weekend for the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christian communities — a rare alignment of calendars that highlights a moment of unity across Christian traditions.