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In place of Pope Francis, a cardinal will lead New Year’s Eve prayer and New Year’s Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica as the pastor suffers from sciatica, a Holy See spokesman said Thursday.
Spokesman Matteo Bruni said Thursday afternoon that the farewell prayer for Vespers and the subsequent Thanksgiving Te Deum will be delivered by Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the board of cardinals. Mass on Friday will be presented by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, at the high altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in place of the Pope.
Both ceremonies used to be performed by the head of the church, but the Vatican canceled Pope Francis’ participation at the last minute.
The hip nerve in the archbishop’s right leg becomes inflamed, “it is a painful sciatica,” the Vatican spokesman said.
On January 1, at noon, Pope Francis will personally deliver the first New Year’s address from the papal suite library, which will be broadcast live on televisions, radios and the Internet.
The 84-year-old Pope Francis canceled the ceremony for health reasons for the first time since his election in 2013. The Pope has personally led all of the Christmas ceremonies in recent days.
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