Pope Francis emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of people in St. Peter's Square and treat them to a surprise popemobile romp through the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause as he continues his recovery from a near-fatal bout of double pneumonia.Related video above: Why does the date of Easter change every year?맥스카지노�Viva il Papa!맥스카지노� (Long live the pope), 맥스카지노�Bravo!맥스카지노� the crowd shouted as Francis looped through the square in his open-topped popemobile and then up and down the main avenue leading to it. He stopped occasionally to bless babies brought up to him, a scene that was common in the past but unthinkable just a few weeks ago as the 88-year-old pope fought for his life.맥스카지노�Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!맥스카지노� Francis said, his voice sounding stronger than it has since he was released from the hospital March 23 after a five-week stay.Francis didn't celebrate the Easter Mass in the piazza, delegating it to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St. Peter맥스카지노�s Basilica. But after the Mass ended, Francis appeared on the loggia balcony over the basilica entrance for more than 20 minutes and imparted the apostolic blessing in Latin.The crowd of people below, estimated by the Vatican to be more than 35,000, erupted in cheers as a military band kicked off rounds of the Holy See anthem.In all, Francis was outside on a sunny spring day for around 50 minutes, with temperatures at 21 degrees Celsius (70 Fahrenheit) in a piazza awash in daffodils, tulips and other flowers donated by the Netherlands for Easter.맥스카지노�It is excellent, a miracle,맥스카지노� said Margarita Torres Hernandez, a pilgrim from Mexico who was in the square. 맥스카지노�Now that he has come out, for me it맥스카지노�s a miracle. It맥스카지노�s something very big, very beautiful.맥스카지노� Pope met briefly with US Vice President VanceOn his way to the basilica, Francis met briefly in his hotel with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who was spending Easter in Rome with his family. The Vatican said the encounter lasted just a few minutes and was designed to allow for an exchange of Easter greetings.Francis, for his part, gave Vance three big chocolate Easter eggs to give to his three young children.맥스카지노�I know you have not been feeling great, but it맥스카지노�s good to see you in better health,맥스카지노� Vance told the pope. 맥스카지노�Thank you for seeing me.맥스카지노�Francis is recuperating from a lengthy hospital stayFrancis has only appeared in public a handful of times since returning to the Vatican after a 38-day hospital stay. He skipped the solemn services of Good Friday and Holy Saturday leading up to Easter, but he had been expected to make an appearance Sunday.Doctors have prescribed two months of convalescence and respiratory therapy to improve his lung function after he came down with a life-threatening case of double pneumonia. He still seems to require great effort to project his voice, and his breathing remains labored. But his voice sounded stronger than it has to date in the few words he uttered from the loggia. 맥스카지노�It was a very touching moment for us (to see the pope)," said Marcin Popowsky, a pilgrim from Poland. "And we are very happy that we can see a pope in good shape.맥스카지노�Easter is a moment of joy for ChristiansEaster is the most joyful moment on the Christian liturgical calendar, when the faithful celebrate the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion. This year, Easter is being celebrated on the same day by Catholics and Orthodox Christians.Easter at the Vatican traditionally involves a Mass and the pope맥스카지노�s Urbi et Orbi blessing (Latin for 맥스카지노�to the city and the world맥스카지노�), a papal speech delivered from the loggia that is usually a roundup of global hotspots and human suffering.In the speech, read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of liturgical ceremonies, Francis appealed for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as Congo and Myanmar and in other hotspots. And he made a special appeal for migrants and those affected by violence.맥스카지노�How much contempt is stirred up at times toward the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants!맥스카지노� the message said. 맥스카지노�On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas! For all of us are children of God!맥스카지노�Before Sunday, Francis' biggest outing had been a visit to Rome맥스카지노�s downtown prison to spend Holy Thursday with inmates. The visit made clear his priorities as he slowly recovers: to spend time with the people most on the margins.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP맥스카지노�s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.