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At Easter Mass, which in the spring of St. The 83-year-old pontiff made a donation in St. Peter’s Basilica, only a handful of priests attended.
In a letter to foreign envoys at the Vatican, the Holy See’s Foreign Minister informed them that the Christmas ceremonies would be held in a “private format” this year.
No members of the diplomatic corps will attend, and all events will be streamed online, according to a letter seen by the CNA.
Typically, tens of thousands of Catholics visit Rome in December and attend services at the Vatican.
Unable to present himself to the faithful, the pontiff will pray and glorify the Virgin Mary on December 8. St. Peter’s Square. However, Francis still plans to offer the Children’s Mass on Christmas Eve and will announce his traditional address. “Urbi et Orbi” (For the city and the world).
The Argentine-born pope loves to communicate with the public, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he had to severely limit his schedule, cancel scheduled trips, hearings and ceremonies.
Italy has reintroduced severe restrictions to combat the second wave of coronavirus. The government has been hit by a wave of criticism for ordering that restaurants and bars close at 6 p.m. and that theaters, cinemas and sports clubs close for a month.
In Italy, the coronavirus has already transported more than 37,000. lives, but in recent days thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest restrictions on social activity.
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