“He blessed us, but his voice was extinguished” / Pope Francis joined Easter to the Vatican crowd, despite the doctors' recommendations
The last public appearance of Pope Francis, on Sunday, on Easter day, among the people of Saint Peter Square in Rome. Credit Line: IPA / Abaca / Abaca Press / Profimedia
No 24 hours since he had appeared on the balcony of Saint Peter and blessed the approximately 35,000 people gathered to celebrate Easter at the Vatican, Pope Francis died.
The Pontiff, who suffered from various conditions, died on Monday, April 21, at 88. Pope Francis's death occurred one day after he had his first prolonged public appearance since he was discharged, on March 23, after a 38 -day hospitalization for pneumonia.
According to the Vatican, the Pope died from a stroke and a cardiac arrest.
The day before, on Easter day, Francis entered Saint Peter's Square in a Papamobil and greeted the crowd that acclaimed him. He breathed alone, without oxygen tubes, despite the fact that the doctors told him to spend two months in convalescence, according to the BBC.
In the last two weeks, the Sovereign Pontiff has done what he has always done. He received visitors and met with people from all social categories.
When he appeared on Easter Sunday, the crowd broke out in his wishes. Then he was silent.
“Dear brothers and sisters, I wish you a happy Easter,” he said, with the voice loaded with effort. They would be his last words in public.
When Pope Francis will be buried. The official announcement of the Vatican
“He blessed us, but his voice was extinguished”
“I think people felt something-as if they had realized it was the last time they saw it,” said Mauro, a resident of Rome who was in Saint Peter Square for Easter service.
“Usually, everyone shouts” Live the Pope! “This time it was much quieter than usual, there may be more respect for his suffering,” the Italian told the BBC.
“He blessed us, but his voice was extinguished,” a man named Alberto told the same source. “I didn't feel happy seeing him, I could say he was suffering,” he said.
The doctors who treated Francis at Gemelli Hospital in Rome prescribed a complete rest regime, but Pope Francis who spent most of his pontificate meeting with people, did not respect this regime.
As soon as the specialists who treated him explained to him that his health problems would not be resolved quickly, Francis said he would like to return to the Vatican on time for Easter, the most important holiday for Christians.
On Sunday, a camera followed the pope while blessing the believers in the Vatican Square. It was the last time the world saw it in life.
