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Without shaking hands to greet peace, without preparing gifts: under the conditions of Corona, Pope Francis (84) celebrated the traditional Christmas mass in St. At the mass on the occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ, the head of the Church Catholic remembered charity. “Insatiable, we want more and so we rush to the many troughs of vanity and forget about the nativity scene in Bethlehem,” he said Thursday night at mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.
With reference to the Christmas story, Francis added in his sermon that this manger was poor in everything but rich in love and taught that the food of life consists in being loved by God and in loving others. The pontiff also warned that his life should not be used to pity himself but to “comfort the tears of those who suffer.”
Pope sad about the measures of the crown
In the year of Corona, the Christmas mass had to be brought forward to 7.30pm, as stricter Corona rules apply to holidays in Italy and thus also restrictions on departure from 10pm. a little over 100 believers, fewer people celebrated Mass at St.
The limited scope of this year’s Christmas celebrations due to Corona obviously upset the Pope. According to Vatican experts, the 84-year-old is saddened by how Christmas will be celebrated this year. Also, the cardinals in the inner circle around Francis had recently hired Corona.
The pandemic is also an opportunity to bring the meaning of Christmas back to the fore and not consumption, Francis had emphasized beforehand. This makes Christmas more authentic. You also have to think about the sick and lonely on vacation. A phone call, for example, is sufficient.
Today Friday: Blessing «Urbi et orbi»
Today the Christmas program continues at the Vatican: To protect himself against the spread of the coronavirus, Pope Francis wants to donate the blessing “Urbi et orbi” on Christmas Day in the Hall of Blessings of the Apostolic Palace. The Pope’s blessing is not scheduled for Holy Week in St. Peter’s Basilica, as it was called from the Vatican. It starts at noon on Friday. So the Pope also wants to spread his Christmas message.
With the blessing “Urbi et orbi” (For the city and the world), the Pope exempts believers from the penalty for their sins, if they have already been extinguished in confession or through prayer. It is usually donated at Easter and Christmas and when a new Pope is elected. “Urbi et orbi” aims at the city of Rome, of which the Pope is bishop, and the globe, that is, the world.
Back in March, the Pope called all Christians to pray together for the end of the crown pandemic and announced the special blessing “Urbi et Orbi” as a great exception. It was the first time that Francis combined this blessing with a special prayer. It is actually only spoken at Christmas, Easter, and after a papal election. (nim / SDA)
