pope francis has presided over palm sunday mass at the vatican just a day after leaving hospital in rome. the 86 year old was admitted with breathing difficulties, and later diagnosed with bronchitis. the pontiff s admission to hospital came ahead of the busiest week in the christian calendar. thousands of people gathered in st peter s square waving palm and olive branches as pope francis was driven into the huge esplanade, sitting in the back of a white, open topped vehicle. he then celebrated mass his initial blessing was made standing up, but he spent the rest of the service sitting down. in his homily, he called on people not to ignore those experiencing great suffering and solitude. the service ended with a procession in st peter s square. and the pontiff left waving to crowds of worshippers from his popemobile. our correspondentjenny hill sent us this update. the palm sunday mass hasjust the palm sunday mass has just ended and the atmosphere in this square is one of
in his homily, he called on people not to ignore those experiencing great suffering and solitude. the service ended with a procession in st peter s square. and the pontiff left waving to crowds of worshippers from his popemobile. our correspondentjenny hill sent us this update. the palm sunday mass hasjust the palm sunday mass has just ended and the atmosphere in this square is one of the real excitement and joy. that is in part because pope francis has just done a couple of turns of the square in his pope appeal, waving rather energetically to the crowd who were delighted to see him. that is of course because so many here feared he wouldn t make it to their palm sunday mass but he had been here, he was able to preside over the service, although he sat for most of it and a cardinal took the mark a strenuous job of standing and deciding over the actual mass at the altar. pope francis himself, even as he left hospital yesterday,