A quiet Thursday afternoon at St. Peter’s Basilica turned into something extraordinary, as visitors caught a rare glimpse of Pope Francis — not in his familiar white papal robes, but dressed in black trousers and a striped blanket.

The 88-year-old pontiff, recovering from double pneumonia, made an unannounced appearance inside the Vatican’s grand basilica, his second public outing since leaving the hospital on March 23. In a video verified by Reuters, he is seen in a wheelchair, waving gently to visitors, a thin nasal hose supplying oxygen tucked under his nose.

"We were visiting St. Peter's Basilica and saw some guards passing by and making way, so we went to see what it was, and it was the pope," said Luiz Gil, who captured the moment. "Few people noticed, it was very quick, but he stopped to talk to a family with a baby."

The appearance, though brief, offered a glimpse into the pope’s slow recovery. His aides have kept his schedule light since he left hospital, following a 38-day stay — the longest of his 12-year papacy. Only once before had he appeared in public since then, when he greeted crowds during an April 6 event in St. Peter’s Square.

Francis is known for his humility, but it remains uncommon for a sitting pope to wear civilian clothes in the heart of the Vatican. He has dressed down before, usually during low-key events or international travel, but Thursday’s sighting was different — personal, quiet, unannounced.

No formal statement accompanied the visit, but the message was clear. Even in recovery, even in black trousers, Francis remains close to the people.

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