Pope makes surprise outing to Marian basilica on eve of Holy Week
Elise Ann Allen/ Crux• April 13, 2025
On Saturday afternoon, Pope Francis – despite the Vatican’s repeated insistence that he is observing a two-month period of rest – made his fourth surprise outing in a week to pray at his favourite Roman basilica.
According to a Vatican statement issued on April 12, Pope Francis ventured out that afternoon to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, his preferred church among the Roman basilicas. This marked what is believed to be his first departure from the Vatican since returning from hospital three weeks ago.
Francis had been admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14 for treatment of a complex respiratory infection and double pneumonia. He was discharged on March 23 and instructed by doctors to observe a two-month period of rest, avoiding contact with groups.
On the day of his discharge, the Pope confounded his security team by refusing to return immediately to the Vatican. Instead, he made a detour to St Mary Major to deliver a bouquet of flowers.
Although he attempted to get out of the car at that time, he was unable to do so and left the flowers with the coadjutor archpriest of the basilica, Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas. They were placed on the altar below the famed icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani (Health of the Roman People), housed inside the basilica’s Borghese Chapel.
On Saturday, the Pope returned to the basilica, this time entering to pray on the vigil of Palm Sunday, which marks the official beginning of Holy Week. He paused to pray before the Maria Salus Populi Romani icon.
Pope Francis traditionally stops at the basilica to pray both before and after every international trip he undertakes, and he has stated his wish to be buried there, departing from the custom of papal burials in the grotto of St Peter’s Basilica.
This latest outing marked the fourth time in a week that the Pope has surprised the faithful – and the Vatican’s own protocols – by making an unscheduled appearance.
He made an unexpected appearance in St Peter’s Square last Sunday, April 6, at the close of a Mass for the Jubilee for the Sick and Healthcare Workers. On Wednesday, he held an unannounced private meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom.
On Thursday, he entered St Peter’s Basilica unannounced in the middle of the afternoon, dressed not in his usual papal attire but in black trousers, a white undershirt, and a poncho, to pray at the tomb of St Pius X.
These repeated outings have raised questions about whether the Pope is observing the prescribed period of convalescence, despite Vatican assurances to the contrary.
The Vatican has said that Pope Francis continues to rest while working and resuming some meetings, and that these surprise appearances indicate he is recovering well.
Despite the multiple outings this week, the Vatican has not yet confirmed whether the Pope will preside over the Holy Week liturgies or whether he will delegate the ceremonies to cardinals and other senior officials.
(Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)