Pope Francis was not present at the Easter Vigil Service in St. Peter’s Basilica Saturday night. This is presumably due to recurring leg pain which has forced him from some activities.
The pope was replaced by the Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. This involved a procession through near total darkness to the central nave in Christendom’s largest Church.
The pope was seen sitting in front of the basilica, in a large white chair to his side. He appeared alert. According to the Vatican, he would read his homily in the Mass later.
Sciatica is a condition that causes sciatica in Pope Francis, 85. This causes him to have a limp and pain in his right leg. Francis has also experienced a flare-up of pain in his right knee.
It seems like the condition is always changing.
While he had to restrict his movements on a trip to Malta in April, he was able to walk the entire aisle at the beginning and end of Good Friday services in the basilica.
