Pope Francis leads Palm Sunday Mass after hospital stay

Pope Francis celebrates Palm Sunday Mass in St Peter’s Square (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Pope Francis has opened the celebration Mass in St Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday, presiding at his first ceremony after his hospital stay for bronchitis.

On a cloudy morning, Francis wore a long, ivory-coloured coat as he was driven into the square aboard a Pope mobile. Ahead of him, scores of prelates and priests and tens of thousands of rank-and-file faithful clutching palm fronds or olive branches filled the square.