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Pope Francis attended an evening service today to pay tribute to the people who were at the forefront of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by Reuters
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Pope Francis attended an evening service today to mark the end of the year and paid tribute to those who were at the forefront of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported. The Holy Father said that they showed responsibility and solidarity instead of thinking for themselves.
The pope did not lead the service as expected and left it to a senior Vatican cardinal.
The Vatican did not explain what necessitated this last-minute change, as the ritual program said the service would be led by the 85-year-old pope.
The Holy Father, who was walking unassisted and looking in good shape, sat in a white chair next to him most of the time.
He later appeared on the podium and read his sermon again without apparent difficulty.
Last year, Francis had to miss the service due to an exacerbation of sciatica, which caused him pain in his legs.
Conducting such a service would require the pope to stand up, kneel, and hold a heavy golden vessel used for the communion wafer during the ritual.
The pandemic was one of the main topics of the Te Deum service in St. Peter’s Basilica, where several hundred people were admitted.
The coronavirus also forced the pope to cancel his traditional visit after a service on the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square. The Vatican announced the change yesterday, saying it aims to prevent crowds.
In his sermon, Francis said that the pandemic had made many people feel lost and that in some cases there was a temptation for everyone to think only of themselves.
“But we rose again with a sense of responsibility,” he said.
In his sermon, Francis, who is also the Archbishop of Rome, also touched on the poor condition of the Italian capital, speaking in the presence of the city’s mayor Roberto Galtieri.
For several years now, the citizens of Rome have been facing a crisis with the collection of waste, especially in residential areas. Some neighborhoods have even been attacked by herds of wild boars that feed on garbage.
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