Pope Francis Makes His Grand Return After Battling Bronchitis
Pope Francis made his long-awaited return Thursday after being struck down by bronchitis two weeks ago, which forced him to cancel a planned trip to the COP-28 climate conference in Dubai.
The Pope made his grand return by attending his weekly general audience at the Vatican’s Clementine Hall, where he was met with a roaring applause from the 7,000 faithful.
“I am so happy to be here with you all today,” the Pope said in his address. “I thank you for the many prayers and kind wishes I have received during my illness.”
The Pope was welcomed to the hall with a standing ovation as he entered and took his place on the stage. After being seated, he blessed the audience and began his address, saying, “I want to especially thank all of you who have been praying for me and wishing me well during this time.”
The Pope also spoke about the importance of people taking care of their health, saying, “We must be sure to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of others, and so that we can serve God and others in the best way possible.”
The Pope’s return comes as a welcomed reprieve for the faithful, as it was announced two weeks ago that he would have to cancel his planned trip to Dubai for the COP-28 climate conference.
The Pope was expected to address the conference on behalf of the Catholic Church, and to urge world leaders to take urgent climate action. However, due to the Pope’s illness, Vatican officials were forced to cancel the trip.
As news of the Pope’s return spread, social media saw a flurry of activity as many expressed their delight at the Pope’s return.
“Welcome back, Pope Francis! We love you and we were so worried about you!” one person said on Twitter.
The Pope’s return has also been welcomed by many world leaders, including the presidents of the United States and Mexico.
“It is wonderful to see the Pope back and healthy,” said President Joe Biden. “He is a global leader who brings people together and we are thankful for his return.”
Pope Francis is expected to resume his regular schedule soon, and to make his long-awaited return to the COP-28 conference in the coming weeks.
He has been a vocal advocate for environmental protection throughout his papacy, and his presence at the conference will undoubtedly be a great source of inspiration for those hoping for a successful outcome.
In the meantime, Pope Francis will continue to send inspiring messages through his weekly general audiences, as well as through his regular tweets and other social media posts.
For now, the world can be thankful that Pope Francis is back and healthy, and that he can continue to lead the Catholic Church in its mission of peace and justice.