Pope Francis‘s last public appearance came just a day before his death, as he made an unexpected tour of St Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday — a farewell that now stands as the closing chapter of his papacy.
The 88-year-old pontiff, who had recently been discharged from hospital after a five-week battle with a severe infection and double pneumonia, had been widely expected to skip public events during the Holy Week. But to the surprise and joy of thousands gathered in Vatican City, Francis appeared in his popemobile following the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.
“Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!” he said, offering a brief but heartfelt greeting to the crowd, many of whom were moved to tears.
Though visibly frail and listless, Francis waved gently to the cheering faithful as he rode through the square, his presence alone lifting spirits on the most important day of the Christian liturgical calendar.
He had delegated the Easter Mass to the retired archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica but made the effort to bless the crowd personally, a gesture now seen as a final act of connection with the people he served for over a decade.
The moment was especially powerful given his recent hospitalisation and the uncertainty around his health. Just weeks earlier, he had come close to death from a respiratory crisis.
Released on March 23, his appearance on March 31 offered hope of recovery — and left a lasting memory for millions.
Elsewhere in the world, Easter celebrations carried on under different shadows. In southern Lebanon, for example, Mass was held amid the rubble of the bombed St George Melkite Catholic Church — a symbol of both suffering and resilience.