Pope Francis on Saturday did not deliver his message before thousands of pilgrims, as in the past, but instead offered it from the calm of a Vatican library due to COVID-19 precautions
The Vatican moved the location for Saturday’s noon-time prayer to the library in the Apostolic Palace.
Originally, the head of the Catholic Church had planned to pray to the faithful in St Peter’s Square, as is customary.
Outside the Vatican in Italy as a whole, strict curfew restrictions apply over the Christmas holidays until the beginning of January, with the exception of four days of December 28 to 30 and January 4.
People are only supposed to leave their homes during this time to go to work, to the doctor’s, shopping or to exercise on their own, making it difficult for believers to access St Peter’s Square.
Pope Francis during the prayer stressed the importance of forgiveness and prayed for Christians facing persecution for their faith at the traditional Angelus prayer on Saturday.
“Today, let us pray for those suffering persecution because of the name of Jesus. They are many unfortunately,” he said.
The ceremony takes place on the day Catholics commemorate Saint Stephen.
According to tradition, the preacher was accused of blasphemy and became the first Christian martyr when he was stoned to death at the gates of Jerusalem.
In spite of the false accusations and brutal stoning, Stephen forgave his murderers, Francis recalled.
Today’s faithful should also pray for people who have made a mistake and not speak ill of them, the 84-year-old said.
And, if there are arguments at home, he said people should try to mend fences and not necessarily prove they are right.
Due to the precautions relating to the virus, Francis also had to give his “Urbi et Orbi” blessing in a smaller venue on Friday.
The Christmas Mass on Thursday also took place with a limited number of participants.
