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Francis opened Easter on Saturday with an evening mass that took place without pilgrims due to the crown pandemic.
10:34 p.m., April 11, 2020
Pope Francisco Easter opened on Saturday with an evening mass that took place without pilgrims due to the crown pandemic. Only a few dignitaries and believers attended the service in the massive St. Peter’s Basilica, which is home to tens of thousands of visitors. Parts of the fair were held in abbreviated form. As in the previous days, a historical plague cross was also built, which is said to have been carried through the streets of Rome during the plague in 1522.
The day before, the Catholic head of the church had celebrated the Good Friday procession in a completely different way due to the spread of the virus. In St. Peter’s Square, apart from 83-year-old Francis, only a few people were there to commemorate the death of Jesus. The ceremony had been moved from the ancient Coliseum to the square in front of the cathedral. Italy has been hit hard by the crown pandemic, with more than 19,000 deaths. There were also some Covid 19 patients at the Vatican, but there were no deaths as a result of the wave of virus.
Even Easter Sunday without believers
Francis continues the Easter celebrations on Sunday with a mass and the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing (12.00 p.m.). Due to the crown pandemic, mass (11 a.m.) takes place in St. Peter’s Basilica without believers. The Catholic head of the church had also performed the other ceremonies of these festivals in a small group without pilgrims.
The fair and traditional blessing can be followed on the Internet and shown on many television stations around the world. The “Urbi et Orbi” blessing (the city and the land) is the most important in the Catholic Church and is pronounced at Christmas, Easter and after a papal election. Due to the Corona crisis, the 83-year-old Pope donated such a special blessing in a unique gesture on March 27.