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The timing and manner of his guest-starring appearance in the Vatican today will have reminded the Roman Curia just how hard to pin down, or predict, Francis really is.
VATICAN CITY (PerMariam) — In a surprise move, Pope Francis appeared in the Vatican today in an event most notable for the fact of the strikingly disheveled nature of his appearance.
A little before 1 p.m. Rome time on Thursday afternoon, tourists and pilgrims in St. Peter’s Basilica were greeted by a shock sighting of the Pope. Reports, broken first by ANSA, documented how he came to inspect the just-concluded restoration work on the Altar of the Cathedra, before then being wheeled to pray at the altar of St. Pius X.
After that, he returned to the Casa Santa Martha guesthouse which he has made his home for the duration of this pontificate.
But even more striking than the surprise appearance by the Pontiff – of which more further down – was his appearance and that of his assistants.
Continued below.

Pope Francis’ shock untidy appearance in Vatican: Was it intentional?
The timing and manner of his guest-starring appearance in the Vatican today will have reminded the Roman Curia just how hard to pin down, or predict, Francis really is.
