What is happening to Pope Francis ? The sovereign pontiff abstains from a homily for Palm Sunday, an extremely rare occurrence

Le pape François, ici en décembre 2023. Spaziani – Stefano Spaziani

In recent weeks, the 87-year-old pope has suffered from bronchitis and flu and used an assistant to read his speeches for him. This Sunday, the text he had prepared was not read at all.

Pope Francis did not read his homily at Mass for Palm Sunday, an extremely unusual occurrence during an event of such importance for Catholic Christians. The sovereign pontiff, however, continued to preside over the office in front of tens of thousands of people gathered in Saint Peter's Square, at the Vatican.

In recent weeks, the 87-year-old pope has suffered from bronchitis and flu and used an assistant to read his speeches for him. This Sunday, the text he had prepared was not read at all.

Mise à jour de la Gendarmerie vaticane : 60 000 fidèles présents à la messe des Rameaux et de la Passion, ce dimanche place Saint-Pierre. https://t.co/jtldpy9Pbh

— Vatican News (@vaticannews_fr) March 24, 2024

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