The Vatican’s online Holy Week and Easter events reached millions of people around the world. New viewers, followers and fans inspired by Pope Francis’ words and gestures were among those taking part. “We have been struck by the many emails we have received, comments and posts on our social media from people, even agnostics and Read more
The Pope’s vision for a post-pandemic church will balance institutional rules and regulations with a more free-form church that responds to people’s pastoral needs creatively. Explaining his point, he gave the example of an Italian bishop who asked him if it was allowable to offer general absolution to hospitalised Covid-19 patients in isolation. A canon Read more
In the Pope’s Holy Week message, Francis reaches out to those whose lives have changed most because of COVID-19. In a video message, he speaks of the difficulties and suffering these weeks have brought many people, for those with sick people at home and those who are in mourning. “I can imagine you in your Read more
Pope Francis offered a prayer for media professionals who are covering the coronavirus pandemic before his daily Mass on Wednesday. “Those who work in the media, who work to communicate today so that people are not so isolated … help us to bear this time of isolation,” Pope Francis said April 1. The pope asked Read more
On a bleak Friday evening, from the atrium of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis blessed the city of Rome and of the world. The ‘Urbi et Orbi’ blessing, ‘to the city and the world’, was delivered in an empty St Peter’s Square. In stark contrast, the blessing is normally given at Easter and Christmas when Read more
A global ceasefire of all armed conflicts would help in the humanitarian battle against coronavirus (COVID-19), says Pope Francis. An additional humanitarian response needs to come from every government in the world, “to avoid tragedies” that could result from Covid-19 spreading in overcrowded prisons, Francis says. Francis issued these two passionate humanitarian appeals on Sunday. Read more
Pope Francis said he has “hope in humanity” during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In an interview for a television programme this week, Francis was asked if he was “optimistic” in face of the pandemic. He replied, “that’s a word I don’t like, because optimism to me, I’m not saying it is, to me sounds like Read more
Pope Francis, along with Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant church leaders and Christians throughout the world joined in simultaneous prayer on Wednesday to ask God to stop the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Church of England also asked Anglicans to join Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury in praying with Francis, tweeting: “Please join us wherever you are. Read more
General absolution is allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing the global difficulty Catholic priests are having in hearing confessions, the Vatican says it is acceptable for bishops to offer general absolutions to certain groups of people. While the norm is an individual confesses their sins and celebrates the Sacrament of Reconciliation, General Absolution can be Read more
People under COVID-19 lockdown and isolated in their homes should take advantage of the time they have with their families, says Pope Francis. Francis pleads we “rediscover” the importance of “small, concrete gestures expressing closeness and concreteness toward the people closest to us, a caress for our grandparents, a kiss for our children, for the Read more