Surprise!: Pope joins Jubilee of the Sick (Photos)

On this sunny late morning, the Pope, who has been living in seclusion for the past two weeks at his residence in Santa Marta – the doctors having prescribed two months of rest – came out without warning to join the 20,000 pilgrims of the Jubilee of the Sick.

The appearance of the man in white wearing his nasal cannula, in his wheelchair pushed by his personal nurse Massimiliano Strappetti, aroused palpable emotion among the crowd. [See photos at the end of this article.]

Pope Francis joined the altar on the podium and with a still limited wave of his hand, blessed the participants in the Jubilee, joining in the blessing of Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who represented him for this celebration, and read the homily he had prepared.

Earlier during the mass, the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization had assured that the Argentinian pontiff was following the liturgy on television “like so many sick, so many fragile people.”

“Happy Sunday to you all! Thank you very much,” said Pope Francis into the microphone held out to him after the blessing. The Pope spoke in a weak voice, making an obvious effort to speak, but still managed to smile.

After these brief words, the pontiff was escorted back to his residence behind the Leonine walls, passing through the crowd in an alleyway.

“The Pope affectionately greets all those who participated in this celebration and thanks them for their prayers,” could be heard simultaneously over the loudspeakers in the square.

The pontiff's outing was intended as a jubilee pilgrimage in union with the sick, the Holy See Press Office later indicated. Before greeting the pilgrims, the Pope went to confession in St. Peter's Basilica, reflected in prayer, and passed through the “Holy Door” - as is customary during jubilees in Rome.

By making this unexpected outing, the Pope sent “a double message,” according to a Vatican source consulted by I.MEDIA. On the one hand, “he is participating as a patient in the Jubilee of the Sick.” On the other hand, showing himself during a live public event means that he “is better.”

“He was able to take a little dip in the crowd for the first time in about two months.”

This was the second public appearance of the Argentine pontiff since being hospitalized at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on February 14, and released on March 23 for his convalescence. He only appeared on the day of his discharge from the hospital, from a balcony of the establishment, and very briefly. Since his return to Saint Martha's, the Pope has been resting, he is not receiving official visitors, and he is undergoing motor and respiratory physiotherapy.