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World / Europe

Pope stuck in elevator for 25 minutes, freed by fire brigade

Published: 01 Sep 2019 - 01:29 pm | Last Updated: 01 Nov 2021 - 03:04 pm
Pope Francis waves from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St. Peter's square during the weekly Angelus prayer on September 1, 2019 at the Vatican. / AFP / Tiziana FABI

Pope Francis waves from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St. Peter's square during the weekly Angelus prayer on September 1, 2019 at the Vatican. / AFP / Tiziana FABI

Reuters

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis arrived late for his weekly address in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, explaining that he had been stuck in an elevator in the Vatican for 25 minutes and had to be freed by firefighters.

"I have to beg your pardon," the smiling pontif said as he started the address about 10 minutes late.

He then explained that there had been an electrical power problem in the Vatican and that he had been stuck in the elevator until freed by Vatican fire officers.

"A round of applause for the fire brigade," he told the crowd.