Pope Francis returns to work: 86-year-old pontiff meets Martin Scorsese and holds private audiences after day off with fever as health fears grow
- The pontiff met legendary director Martin Scorsese and his wife Helen Morris
- Health concerns have surrounded the octogenarian pontiff for several months
Pope Francis recovered to return to work today after being forced to clear his schedule due to a fever earlier in the week.
The pontiff returned to his duties, holding several private audiences, including a greeting with legendary Hollywood director Martin Scorsese.
The head of the Catholic Church met the director of Goodfellas and his wife Helen Morris as part of a conference at the Vatican.
The trio were seen shaking hands and smiling at each other. Scorsese also appeared to hand Francis a framed gift.
Health concerns have surrounded the octogenarian pontiff for a few months now. The 86-year-old had been hospitalized with bronchitis just two months ago.
Goodfellas: Pope Francis meets director Martin Scorsese and his wife Helen Morris. The trio were pictured shaking hands and smiling at each other
Pope Francis met director Martin Scorsese at the Vatican today. Scorsese also appeared to hand Francis a framed gift
On Friday, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the Argentine pope was not holding an audience “due to a feverish state”.
It was unclear who the pope was to meet, as his agenda was not made public.
Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin blamed the pontiff’s busy schedule, saying he was “tired”.
Francis had eight meetings Thursday, according to his published schedule.
Her next public appearance is Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica to celebrate Pentecost, followed by the traditional Regina Coeli prayer.
On Monday, he is due to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
Francis, leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics since 2013, has suffered from increasing health problems over the past year, ranging from persistent pain in his right knee to his recent stay in hospital with bronchitis.
The episodes sparked widespread concern and fueled speculation that he might choose to retire rather than stay on the job for life, a choice made by his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
At the end of March, Francis was admitted to hospital in Rome after having difficulty breathing and stayed there for three nights.
He was treated with antibiotics for bronchitis.
Pope Francis meets with officials at a conference promoted by La Civilta Cattolica and Georgetown University at the Vatican today
The pontiff has returned to his duties, holding several private audiences and meeting with officials at a conference at the Vatican today
The pope reads aloud as he greets officials during a conference at the Vatican today
As he left Gemelli Hospital on April 1, the pope smiled and joked with well-wishers, joking, “I’m still alive!”
However, the pope was still forced to miss the ‘Stations of the Cross’ procession on Good Friday last month due to cold weather.
He instead attended an indoor Good Friday service in St. Peter’s Basilica.
It was the first time the pope has not presided over the “Via Crucis” service since his election in 2013.
He managed to participate in the duties of Maundy Thursday, bringing together dozens of cardinals and bishops, and some 1,880 priests, in St. Peter’s Basilica.
The pope then traveled to the Casal del Marmo prison on the outskirts of the city, where he washed and kissed the feet of 12 young inmates in a gesture meant to commemorate Jesus’ humility towards his apostles the day before of his death.
Francis, who became pope ten years ago, lost part of a lung. He was kidnapped when he was a young man in his native Argentina.
