Pope Francis left flustered as strong winds blow off his hat and clothes slap his face

Pope Francis left flustered as strong winds blow off his hat and clothes slap his face

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GB News
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 10/04/2024

- 14:31

The Pope was holding his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square when the wind picked up

Pope Francis was left flailing around after his hat flew away and clothes struck him in the face as high winds blew.

The Pope held his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square at the Vatican when a breeze began to pick up.


The 87-year-old spoke about fortitude during his speech which are held at 10am every Wednesday to give pilgrims and visitors the chance to "see the Pope" and receive the Papal Blessing or Apostolic Blessing.

Photos show the Pope's clothing beginning to float in the air before the wind pushes his mantle - an ecclesiastical vestment in the Catholic Church - into his face.

Pope Francis

Pope Francis was left flailing around after his hat flew away and clothes struck him in the face as high winds blew

Reuters

Later he was seen getting into a spot of bother again when he attempts to catch his hat before it blows off behind him.

The pope then calmly smoothed down his clothes and rearranged his mantle.

A breeze began to pick up again at the end of the weekly general audience when Bishop Parkes of the Diocese of St. Petersburg was welcome by Francis.

Bishop Parkes was also caught out by the wind as his clothing flew up behind him.

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The Pope held his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square at the Vatican when a breeze began to pick up

Reuters

As he greeted crowds, he said fortitude was a fundamental virtue because it took "the challenge of evil in the world seriously".

He went on to warn that "some pretend it does not exist... that dark forces which bring death do not lurk in history".

He gave examples of war, violence, slavery, and oppression of the poor - calling them "wounds that have never healed and continue to bleed".

The Pope also warned against "internal enemies" and gave examples of anxiety, anguish, fear, and guilt.

He was seen getting into a spot of bother again when he attempts to catch his hat before it blows off behind him

Reuters

It is not the first time the leader of the Catholic church has been captured with his skullcap flying off.

Last month, a similar incident happened when his hat flew off his head as he arrived for his weekly audience in the Vatican City.

The skullcap, also known as a zucchetto, appeared to be carried away by a gust of wind - to the amusement of his audience.

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