Pope Francis 'continues to be a maverick' amid his recovery

The Vatican’s spokesperson said the next day that recent outings were proof that the pope’s health is improving. But there are possibly other motives at play

Pope Francis talks to journalists as he leaves at the end of his visit to the Regina Coeli penitentiary in Rome on Holy Thursday. Photo: AP/Andrew Medichini

Lorena Araujo Piñeiro was putting the finishing touches to the restoration of the 17th-century tomb of Pope Urban VIII, a dark bronze and gold monument in St Peter’s Basilica, when she noticed a man wearing a striped poncho-like top, black trousers and no shoes, being pushed in a wheelchair towards her.

“It was around noon and the basilica was practically empty,” said Piñeiro, a restorer. “I struggled to recognise who it was … I thought he was a simple pilgrim. It was as if he’d just got out of bed.”