Pope Francis emerges from convalescence on Easter, delights crowd

Vatican City: Pope Francis emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to love thousands of people in St Peter’s Square and address them to a shock popemobile journey through the patio.

He drew exotic cheers and applause as he continues his recovery from a near-fatal episode of double pneumonia.

“Viva al Papa! ” ( Long live the pope ), “Bravo! ” the crowd shouted as Francis looped through the circle in his open-topped popemobile and finally up and down the main street leading to it.

He stopped often to bless children brought up to him, a landscape that was common in the past but unthinkable only a few weeks ago as the 88-year-old bishop fought for his career.

“Brothers and daughters, Content Easter! ” Francis said, his voice sounding stronger than it has since he was released from the hospital on March 23 after a five-week be.

Francis did n’t celebrate the Easter Mass in the portico, delegating it to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the withdrew archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica. But after the Mass ended, Francis appeared on the courtyard balcony over the church gate for more than 20 days and imparted the papal blessing in Latin.

The crowd of people below, estimated by the Vatican to be more than 35,000, erupted in cheers as a defense group kicked off shells of the Holy See anthem.

“It is outstanding, a wonder, ” said Margarita Torres Hernandez, a traveller from Mexico who was in the circle. “Now that he has come out, for me it ’s a mystery, it ’s something very large, very lovely. ”