Pope Francis, 88, made an unannounced visit to St Peter’s Basilica on Thursday (April 10), drawing attention for both his frail appearance and his departure from traditional papal attire. The pontiff, who is recovering from a prolonged illness, was seen in a wheelchair with an oxygen tube under his nose, wearing black trousers and a white long-sleeved shirt, with a striped blanket draped around his shoulders.
Just a week after his surprise appearance at the Jubilee of the Sick — where over 20,000 faithful had gathered in St Peter’s Square — the Pope once again stepped out of Casa Santa Marta to spend time in the basilica, marking another quiet moment in his gradual return to public life, the Vatican News reported.
The Pope paused to pray at the tombs of St. Pius X and Benedict XV.
Photographs and a video shared online showed the pontiff greeting visitors and blessing a baby. His appearance was markedly different from the formal white cassock typically worn in public.
Pope Francis made a surprise visit to St. Peter’s Basilica this afternoon: pic.twitter.com/hsUOElq8xP
— Rich Raho (@RichRaho) April 10, 2025
According to Monsignor Valerio Di Palma, a canon of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope passed through the Door of Prayer, visited the Altar of the Chair, and then made his way to the tomb — speaking no words, but communicating through silent gestures.
This low-key visit came just a day after Pope Francis held a private meeting at the Vatican with Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla. In official photographs from that engagement, the Pope was seen wearing his usual white house dress as he extended well-wishes to the royal couple on their 20th wedding anniversary.
Che occasione speciale!
A special moment for Their Majesties as they privately met His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican yesterday.
The King and Queen were deeply touched by The Pope’s kind remarks about their 20th wedding anniversary and honoured to be able to share their… pic.twitter.com/5WAZu9nN5q
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 10, 2025
The Pope was discharged from hospital in late March after five weeks of treatment.
