Pope To Scrap Public Angelus Prayer Due To Italy’s COVID-19 Restrictions

Due to restrictions, Pope Francis had to give his “Urbi et
Orbi” blessing in a smaller venue on Friday.

Italy’s virus restrictions mean Pope Francis will not recite the
Angelus prayer on Boxing Day before thousands of pilgrims, as in
the past, but instead will declaim it from the calm of a Vatican
library.

The Vatican moved the location for Saturday’s noon-time (1100
GMT) prayer to the library in the Apostolic Palace, according to a
statement from the Holy See.

Originally, the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, had
planned to pray to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, as is
customary on Sundays.

In Italy, strict curfew restrictions apply over the Christmas
holidays until the beginning of January, with the exception of four
days (Dec. 28 to 30 and Jan. 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.

Due to the restrictions, Pope Francis 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.

Due to restrictions, Pope Francis had to give his “Urbi et
Orbi” blessing in a smaller venue on Friday.

Italy’s virus restrictions mean Pope Francis will not recite the
Angelus prayer on Boxing Day before thousands of pilgrims, as in
the past, but instead will declaim it from the calm of a Vatican
library.

The Vatican moved the location for Saturday’s noon-time (1100
GMT) prayer to the library in the Apostolic Palace, according to a
statement from the Holy See.

Originally, the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, had
planned to pray to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, as is
customary on Sundays.

In Italy, strict curfew restrictions apply over the Christmas
holidays until the beginning of January, with the exception of four
days (Dec. 28 to 30 and Jan. 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.

Due to the restrictions, Pope Francis 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.