Pope will celebrate Christmas without congregation: report

Pope Francis will have to give up meeting with Catholics at the annual Advent and Christmas Masses at the Vatican due to the resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic, the specialized agency Catholic News Agency (CNA) reported on Monday.

The 83-year-old pontiff was deprived of a congregation at Easter when he had to celebrate Mass in San Pedro with very few people present.

In a letter to foreign envoys to the Vatican, their foreign minister informed them that the Christmas ceremonies would take “a private form” this year.

Members of the diplomatic corps will not be present and the events will be available online, said a document seen by the CNA.

Tens of thousands of Catholics often visit Rome in December to attend services at the Vatican.

The Pope has scheduled a prayer in St. Peter’s Square on December 8 in lieu of a public appearance to honor the Virgin Mary, but he has yet to celebrate Mass on Christmas Eve and deliver his traditional Urbi and Orbi message to the world.

The Argentine-born pontiff likes to greet the public, but since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Italy, he has had to cut his schedule, canceling trips, receptions and ceremonies.

Italy has reimposed restrictions to combat a second wave of the pandemic, and authorities face a backlash after ordering restaurants and bars to close beginning at 6:00 p.m. and theaters, cinemas and gyms to close for a month.

The virus has killed more than 37,000 people in Italy, but thousands have also turned out in recent days to protest restrictions on social activities.