Seated in the vehicle, the Holy Father was able to greet more closely the 14,000 or so pilgrims at today’s general audience.
The Holy See denied news reports that a terrorist attack might be planned against the Pope around Easter.
«There is absolutely no alert,» Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro-Valls said in statements to the press.
On Tuesday, some media outlets reported that U.S. and European security services alerted the Holy See about a possible attack, and recommended that the Pope wear a bulletproof jacket in public.
The Holy Father plans to preside over all the major ceremonies of Holy Week.