Current:Home > InvestPope Francis makes his first public appearances since being stricken by bronchitis-LoTradeCoin
Pope Francis makes his first public appearances since being stricken by bronchitis
View Date:2024-12-23 15:57:51
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis on Thursday made his first public appearance outdoors since being stricken by bronchitis two weeks ago, which forced him to cancel a planned trip to the COP-28 climate conference in Dubai.
The pope has been steadily recovering, and for the Dec. 8 holiday devoted to Mary kept a traditional appointment to pray at the Spanish Steps. He arrived in a black car, and blessed a crowd of onlookers before taking a seat in a chair facing a statue of the Madonna.
The pontiff prayed for Mary’s mercy for “all the people oppressed by injustice and poverty, tried by war,’’ adding a special prayer for “the tormented Ukrainian people,” as well as Palestinians and Israelis “who have fallen back into a spiral of violence.”
Francis also addressed violence against women, a topic that has resonated in Italy in recent weeks following the killing last month of a 22-year-old female student in northern Italy. “Mary, we need you as a woman, to entrust all of the women who have suffered violence and those who are still victims in this city, in Italy and in every part of the world,’’ the pope said.
Before his appointment at the Spanish Steps, Francis went to the St. Mary Major basilica to pray before one of his favorite icons to Mary. He entered the basilica in a wheelchair.
Francis earlier addressed the faithful from an open window overlooking St. Peter’s Square for the traditional blessing, appearing for the first time to the public since his illness.
Francis, who turns 87 on Dec. 17, came down with the flu on Nov. 25 and was forced to cancel a planned trip to Dubai to participate in the U.N. climate conference. He later revealed he had been diagnosed with an acute case of infectious bronchitis that made breathing difficult.
It was the second time this year he has had a serious case of bronchitis; in spring he was hospitalized for three days to receive intravenous antibiotics.
veryGood! (7978)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Take the Day Off
- Federal Program Sends $15 Million to Help Coal Communities Adapt
- Shoppers Praise This NuFACE Device for Making Them Look 10 Years Younger: Don’t Miss This 67% Discount
- Whatever happened to the caring Ukrainian neurologist who didn't let war stop her
- Princess Kate to host annual Christmas carol service following cancer treatment
- SEC sues crypto giant Binance, alleging it operated an illegal exchange
- A 1931 law criminalizing abortion in Michigan is unconstitutional, a judge rules
- 4 ways to make your workout actually fun, according to behavioral scientists
- NY forest ranger dies fighting fires as air quality warnings are issued in New York and New Jersey
- The Truth About Queen Camilla's Life Before She Ended Up With King Charles III
Ranking
- See Chris Evans' Wife Alba Baptista Show Her Sweet Support at Red One Premiere
- Still Shopping for Mother’s Day? Mom Will Love These Gifts That Won’t Look Last-Minute
- When does life begin? As state laws define it, science, politics and religion clash
- Today’s Climate: May 29-30, 2010
- Satellite images and documents indicate China working on nuclear propulsion for new aircraft carrier
- How to behave on an airplane during the beast of summer travel
- As Snow Disappears, A Family of Dogsled Racers in Wisconsin Can’t Agree Why
- Robert Kennedy Jr.'s Instagram account has been restored
Recommendation
-
Residents urged to shelter in place after apparent explosion at Louisville business
-
See the Best Dressed Stars Ever at the Kentucky Derby
-
Today’s Climate: June 4, 2010
-
The crisis in Jackson shows how climate change is threatening water supplies
-
North Carolina offers schools $1 million to help take students on field trips
-
These Mother's Day Gifts From Kardashian-Jenner Brands Will Make Mom Say You're Doing Amazing, Sweetie
-
Congress Launches Legislative Assault on Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan
-
Federal Program Sends $15 Million to Help Coal Communities Adapt