As Easter approaches, the sovereign pontiff sends a symbolic message

No one expected. Sunday, April 6, Pope Francis arrived at Place Saint-Pierre, in a wheelchair, sick among the sick pilgrims gathered for the closing mass of the jubilee dedicated to them. The Argentinian pontiff has difficulty pronounced a few words – “Good Sunday to all. Thank you very much ” – and blessed the assembly with a hindered gesture, struggling to lift the arm of the armrest of his wheelchair.

A few days later, on April 9, his face still as tired, he received King Charles of England and his wife Camilla in a private audience. This pope, so much celebrated for his energy, is not afraid of presenting himself to the world today in all his weakness.

How not to think of John Paul II, who, although very weakened, went to the end of his strength to maintain contact with believers? The Polish pope could not pronounce his last blessings Urbi and Orbi (to the city – from Rome – and to the world), during the 2005 Passover.

Twenty years later, at the same time Pascal, François’s attitude has only more meaning: a pontiff remains a man, it seems to want to remind in turn, a man subject to suffering like all of us. Another way for this pastor to embody the pontifical figure, once again manifesting its close proximity to the faithful.

“François shows that one can be a spiritual leader without being in great shape. This is a strong message sent to the Image Society, ”underlines Romilda Ferrauto, ex-chief editor of the French-speaking editorial staff of Vatican News. “He recognizes himself sick and finds the strength to receive the British royal couple, what courage!” adds Isabelle, 72, invested in the pastoral care of the funeral … He does not let go of the joysticks of the church and carries his message. »»

Chantal, a septuagenarian committed to the little brothers of the poor, worries about this bishop of Rome reduced, in the same way as “for the elderly people of (his) entourage who are not well. “She also thinks of her successor:” Will he continue his reforms in the same spirit of openness? »»

A mental strength

For the time being, the question is rather whether the church can continue to operate without a pope in full possession of its means. A pontiff who, moreover, ruled until then with authority and without delegating much.

If the mental force of the residence of the Sainte-Marthe residence is no doubt, he remains an 88-year-old man with reduced physical capacities. “From the hospital, François has been able to agree with nominations of bishops on the basis of files prepared by the Curia, recalls a good connoisseur of Vatican Arcana.

Dicaster’s chiefs discern which files should be presented to him, so -called “major importance” affairs, such as questions of sexual abuse or those who have an international impact. In this period, many texts signed by the Pope’s hand were published, in particular the letter which establishes the start of a route extending the synod to an ecclesial assembly in 2028.

Uncertainty reigns

François continues to work. And the vatican diplomacy of turning. “Bishop Peña Parra, a substitute for the secretary of state, makes the journey every day to Sainte-Marthe, and the Secretary of State himself, Cardinal Parolin, goes there regularly, assures another Roman source.

But the Pope’s voice and his visible presence is missing; The declarations of Cardinal Parolin on Ukraine or Gaza have less scope. We experience the effects of his absence in the past two months. “The Franco-Italian journalist Romilda Ferrauto confirms it:” More than ever, the pontiff, a public man, must be seen and heard. It would be a problem in terms of image if this situation should last. »»

Vatican communication has understood this and takes great care to show a stone successor always in activity. “The pope continues to call the Argentinian parish priest Gabriel Romanelli to Gaza,” said Vatican News on April 8, “a brief but very sincere and appreciated call”. Latest news, François’s health is improving. It has better respiratory autonomy and its pulmonary infections are absorbed, said the Holy Seat.

But uncertainty reigns. Will he participate in the Pascale festivals (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter and Easter Sunday), whose long celebrations require endurance? Will he give the blessing Urbi and Orbi Easter Sunday? And a supputation comes back, insistent: will he eventually give up, like his predecessor, Benoît XVI?