"At 7:35 this morning [6:35 in Angola], the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father's house. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and his Church," Cardinal Farrell said.
This appearance on Easter Sunday, in which the Supreme Pontiff was in a wheelchair, took place weeks after he had been hospitalized for 38 days due to bilateral pneumonia, having been discharged on March 23.
This Sunday, the Pope, still recovering from severe pneumonia, appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to bless the thousands of faithful gathered there, who greeted him with cheers and applause.
"Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!" said Francis, who appeared in a wheelchair, to give his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing.
The Argentine Pope remained seated in his wheelchair and asked Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of pontifical liturgical celebrations, to read the message to the 35,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Easter Sunday mass, which was presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri.
After the message, the Pope appeared in his 'popemobile' in the middle of the crowd of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square to celebrate Easter and for about 15 minutes he walked through the corridors of the square and blessed babies, surrounded by bodyguards.
Francis had made another surprise appearance on Saturday when he went to pray in St. Peter's Basilica before the celebration of the Holy Saturday Vigil and stopped to greet some groups of American pilgrims who were in the church.
With the baptismal name Jorge Mario Bergogli, the Pope was born on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Pope Francis assumed leadership of the Catholic Church in 2013, succeeding Benedict XVI.
