[ad_1]
Pope Francis delivered a message of empathy during his traditional Angelus blessing on Friday, pressing against nerve pain that caused him to miss other New Year ceremonies.
Standing at a lectern in the library of the Apostolic Palace, Francis wished his faithful viewers through a video “a year of peace, a year of hope.”
The Pope did not preside at the New Year’s Eve prayer service or New Year’s Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica due to “painful sciatica.” Francis has previously spoken of his sciatica, a form of low back pain caused by compression of the sciatic nerve.
Like his Urbi et Orbi message on Christmas Day, the Angelus blessing was moved from the Pope’s usual position overlooking St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican to prevent people from gathering amid the strict restrictions of the coronavirus in Italy.
What did Pope Francis say?
After a year defined by the coronavirus outbreak, the Pope preached the importance of burden-sharing around the world.
“The painful events that marked humanity’s journey last year, especially the pandemic, taught us how much it is necessary to take an interest in the problems of others and share their concerns,” he said.
“Today’s life is governed by war, by enmity, by many things that are destructive. We want peace. It is a gift.”
Francis reiterated his concern for the people of Yemen, who are in the midst of a six-year civil war between government forces and Houthi rebels.
“I express my regret and concern at the further escalation of violence in Yemen, which is causing many innocent victims,” the Pope said. “Let’s think about the children of Yemen, without education, without medicine, hungry.”
dv / rc (AP, Reuters)
[ad_2]
