Pope Francis participates in the Easter Vigil service at the Vatican. It comes a day after the last-minute cancellation of his appearance at the big Good Friday procession sparked questions about his health.
The 87-year-old pontiff arrived to lead the Easter vigil at St Peter's Basilica in front of thousands of pilgrims from around the world.
A day after canceling his Way of the Cross ceremony, Pope Francis, dressed in white, arrived in a wheelchair shortly before the two-hour service.
Earlier in the day, the Vatican had confirmed that he would attend.
After the light ceremony in the darkened basilica, symbolizing Christ's passage from death to life, Francis was to deliver a sermon and then baptize eight adults.
On Easter Sunday, the pontiff will celebrate mass and his "Urbi et Orbi" blessing, which will be broadcast around the globe.
In a brief statement on March 29, the Vatican said that "in order to preserve his health before tomorrow's vigil and Easter Sunday Masses, Pope Francis will walk the Stations of the Cross this evening at the Colosseum from the residence Santa Marta, where he lives."
The sudden decision, the pope's wheelchair already at the procession site, and the lack of details in the statement raised doubts about his health and how long he will be able to lead the Church and its 1.3 billion followers. /BGNES