Where did he go? Pope Francis rescued after 25-minute scare
While thousands of eager churchgoers gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the usual traditional Sunday service, the main attraction was nowhere to be found.
Usually, the service starts specifically at the dot-of-noon, and involved the Catholic leader sharing a few words and giving his blessing, but after seven minutes of waiting the same question began to buzz around the square: where is the pope?
After 25 minutes, he appeared and said: "First of all I must excuse myself for being late. I was blocked in an elevator for 25 minutes."
Francis explained the electric power had a “drop in tension,” which caused the elevator to become stuck.
"Thank God the firefighters intervened," he said in reference to the on hand Vatican City State’s own fire department.
The influential Catholic church leader concluded his announcement by asking the audience to give his “rescuers” a round of applause for he shared the news of 13 new churchmen of becoming new cardinals.
The Vatican has not confirmed if the pope was alone or accompanied by any of his aides in the elevator.