Pope presides over Easter Vigil service after skipping Good Friday procession

Appearance comes a day after last-minute decision to miss previous service to conserve his health'

Pope Francis presided over the Vatican's somber Easter Vigil service on Saturday night, a day after making the last-minute decision to skip his participation in the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum as a health precaution.

Francis entered the darkened, silent St Peter's Basilica in his wheelchair, took his place in a chair and offered an opening prayer, sounding somewhat congested and out of breath.