Pope visits St. Peter’s, but not dressed as pope

The head of the Catholic Church, still recovering from his serious respiratory infection, appeared in civilian clothes, under a blanket to protect him from the cold.

Pushed by his personal nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, the 88-year-old pope entered St. Peter's Basilica in a wheelchair to pray and watch restoration work. In the images posted on social networks, Francis still appears weak, and surprisingly, he is not in his usual white cassock.

As well, the Holy Father is not wearing his zucchetto, the famous white skullcap traditionally worn by popes. Below the blanket, you can see black trousers and a white shirt. Pope Francis has never appeared in public like this.

In a video posted by Vatican expert Francesco Antonio Grana on the X network, the head of the Catholic Church greets a child and asks for his name with a smile.

Several hundred tourists and worshippers were able to catch a glimpse of the Pope during this impromptu outing, during which he went to pray at the tomb of St. Pius X.

The Pope also met two young professionals working on restorations.

The Pope reportedly congratulated them and then asked questions about life in the basilica, which is very busy because of the Jubilee. The Holy See Press Office has not released any statement on the visit.

Last Sunday, Pope Francis already surprised people by making an appearance at the end of the Jubilee Mass for the sick. And yesterday, the Pontiff received King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla. Once again, this private meeting had not been announced - the official audience that had been scheduled for April 8 between the sovereigns had been postponed without an announcement of rescheduling.

The Pope was hospitalized for more than five weeks to treat double pneumonia and polymicrobial infections. His doctors, who made no secret of the fact that he had come close to death, prescribed a two-month convalescence starting on March 23, the date of his discharge from the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome.

According to a Vatican source, these unannounced outings of the Pope confirm “that he feels better, that he has character, and that he does not want to throw in the towel.”

On the eve of Holy Week, all official appointments of the Pope are still officially suspended. However, it now seems quite likely that the head of the Catholic Church will still make surprise appearances.

Pope Francis' has referred to his predecessor Pius X, the 257th pope, on a number of occasions. The anniversary of the beginning of his papacy was yesterday; he began the papacy on April 9, 1903, and served through the difficult period of the lead-up to World War I, dying August 20, 1914, just a month after the Great War had officially started.

"I love Pius X very much and have always loved him," Pope Francis wrote in the preface to a book dedicated to this pope. "Pius X was a pope who wept in the face of [the First] World War, of which he was considered the first victim, imploring the powerful to lay down their arms,” wrote Pope Francis, recalling the tragic death of his Italian predecessor.

He also paid tribute to St. Pius X's support for the creation of the Pontifical Biblical Institute. The current Pope expressed his gratitude, "as a Jesuit,” for the "theological and spiritual benefits" offered by this institution. 

The Church marks his feast day each August 21.

This pope is especially known for expanding the frequency of the reception of Holy Communion, and lowering the age of First Communion.

Last year, Pope Francis said: