Pope Francis has sciatica: he skips mass. Will only hold the Angelus – Chronicle

Rome, December 31, 2020 – 2020 is about to end and, on the last day of the year, the Vatican communicates that Pope Francis will not hold the celebrations. “Due to a painful sciatica – Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said: the celebrations tonight and tomorrow morning at the Altar of the Chair in the Vatican Basilica will not be presided over by the Holy Father Francis.

But according to tradition, the Masses will not be skipped and “First Vespers and Te Deum tonight, December 31, 2020, will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, “said the Vatican,” while the Mass will be presided over by Card. Pietro Parolin, Secretary of state “.

The Vatican then assures that “tomorrow Pope Francis, in any case, will direct the recitation of theAngelus, from the Library of the Apostolic Palace, as expected ”.

Gullickson retires in Switzerland: returns to the USA.

Pope Francis accepted the resignation of apostolic nuncio in Switzerland and in Liechtenstein, presented by Mons. Thomas E. Gullickson, titular archbishop of Bomarzo. This was reported by the Bulletin of the Vatican Press Office. The US Archbishop Mons. Gullickson had already announced on his blog on October 17 that he would retire at the end of the year from the position of nuncio that has lasted since 2015. He turned 70 in August, the age at which nuncios can resign; the normal retirement age for bishops is 75 years.

“The Holy Father and I believe that the time has come. There are no real stories to tell,” Gullickson said in a brief email response to Catholic News Service. According to his blog, the prelate will move from Bern to Sioux falls, in South Dakota, after your retirement date, which is today. Describing a “path of discernment” to decide when to withdraw, the nuncio wrote that the Pope’s positive response was the “indisputable sign.” But, he added, he was also encouraged by prayer and the “warm welcome to return home to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from so many circles, both official and personal.”