Since the eruption of the infamous pandemic around the globe many a leader tried to find the best way to deal with the current situation and many speeches were made in the past few weeks by various leaders around the globe.
Tonight at 6 pm Roman time it was Pope Francis’s turn. His unique yet universal address that included readings from the Scriptures, prayers of supplication, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was transmitted live on the main Italian channel RAI 1 and on many others around the world.
We watched Pope Francis slowly come out of the Basilica on to the empty San Pietro square. He looked fatigued as he read under a white tent which protected him from the coming down rain. He prayed for the end of this horrific pandemic and reminded everyone that fear can be overcome by hope. The service concluded with Pope Francis granting a plenary indulgence to all those who listened to it live through the various forms of communication.
In the end, as Francis came out to the deserted piazza San Pietro raising a golden cross above his head you could clearly hear the Vatican’s bells and sirens of ambulances coming together into one powerful toll, sending a loud and clear message to urbi et orbi (literally: to the city of Rome and to the world).
