Rome and London – Pope Francis arrived on Thursday to meet with inmates in a prison in Rome in the middle of the Holy Week, making a public appearance for one of the first times since his long stay in the hospital.
The 88 -year -old pontiff made the short trip from El Vaticano to Regina Coeli’s prison to greet about 70 inmates, said the Vatican.
Francis visited the same Roman prison on Holy Thursday in 2018 to celebrate the Mass “in Coena Domini”, or the Lord’s Supper, with the traditional rite of the washing feet to commemorate what Jesus did to his disciples at the Last Supper.
Pope Francis leaves after a private visit in the prison of Regina Coeli, where some 70 inmates met as part of the celebrations of Holy Thursday in Rome, on April 17, 2025.
Filippo Monteforte/AFP through Getty Images
“Every year I like to do what Jesus did on Holy Thursday, the washing of the feet, in a prison,” the Pope told attendees, according to a Vatican statement. “This year I can’t do it, but I wanted to be close to you. I pray for you and all your families.”
The Pope met individually with each of the 70 prisoners, said the Vatican.
Pope Francis visits the prison of Regina Coeli in Rome, on April 17, 2025.
Vatican Media/Brochure through Reuters
Francis has remained mostly out of view since its launch in March from the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where it had spent more than five weeks after being diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia.
A car with Pope Francis enters the Regina Coeli Penitentiary in Rome on Holy Thursday, Thursday, April 17, 2025.
Andrew Medichini/AP
Francis delegated two cardinals his role in presiding over Easter masses this weekend, the Vatican press office said Wednesday.
Saturday’s Mass of Vigilia on Saturday will be supervised by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the Cardinals College, and Sunday’s Easter Mass will be supervised by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, General Emeritus of the city of the Vatican, the office said.
Pope Francis meets with the staff of the Gemelli hospital and the medical staff of the Vatican, in El Vaticano, on April 16, 2025.
Francesco Sforza/Vatican Media through Reuters
Francis also met on Wednesday at the Vatican with Medical staff of Gemelli, thanking them for their treatment. Francis appeared in a wheelchair, according to photos published by the Vatican.
“Thank you, and thanks for everything you have done. Thank you for being so strong,” he said. “When women are in charge, things work. Thank you and thanks to all. I pray for you and please do it for me. Thank you. And thanks for your service in the hospital, it is very good. Thank you. Keep it up.”
Joe Simonetti of ABC News contributed to this report.
