Pope Francis wears black pants, not papal attire

11/4/2025 6:25

Pope Francis, who is

taking two months' rest as he recovers from double pneumonia,

made an unannounced visit to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican

on Thursday dressed in black pants rather than his usual,

traditional white papal attire.



In a video verified by Reuters, the 88-year-old pontiff is

seen in a wheelchair wearing black pants and with a striped

blanket wrapped around his chest.



The pope, waving at visitors to the basilica as attendants

pushed his wheelchair, had a small nasal hose to receive

supplemental oxygen, the video showed.



The date of the video recording was verified by Reuters by

its metadata and confirmed by the person who shared it.



"We were visiting St. Peter's Basilica and saw some guards

passing by and making way, so we went to see what it was, and it

was the pope," said Luiz Gil, who took the video. "Few people

noticed, it was very quick, but he stopped to talk to a family

with a baby."



Francis is recovering at the Vatican after spending 38 days

in hospital for double pneumonia, in the most serious health

crisis of his 12-year papacy.



He has only made one previous public appearance since being

discharged on March 23, when he briefly greeted crowds during an

event in St. Peter's Square on April 6.



The pope rarely makes public appearances wearing

civilian garb rather than his traditional papal vestments, but

has occasionally dressed down during some trips abroad.