(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Pope Francis has apologised for arriving late to weekly prayer. after he was stuck in an elevator for 25 minutes.
The Pope said sorry to the crowd in St Peter’s Square on Sunday for showing up seven minutes late for his traditional noon appointment with the public.
He said a “drop in voltage” caused the elevator to stop and the Vatican’s City State’s fire department rescued him.
“First of all I have to beg your pardon for being late but I had an unexpected event,” he said to the crowd in Italian.
“Thank goodness, the firemen arrived, and I thank them so much, and after 25 minutes of work they managed to get it started again.”
He then asked for a round of applause for his rescuers, and went ahead with his regular remarks and blessings, concluding with an announcement that he has chosen 13 men to become the Church’s newest cardinals.
The Vatican didn’t say if the Pope was alone in the elevator or accompanied by any of his aides.
Reuters/AP
