Pope gives Easter address to empty basilica, warns against 'selfishness' during pandemic.
“Today my thoughts turn in the first place to the many who have been directly affected by the coronavirus: the sick, those who have died and family members who mourn the loss of their loved ones, to whom, in some cases, they were unable even to bid a final farewell,” he said to an empty church.
Mr. and Mrs. Stewart watch Pope Francis deliver Easter Mass at their home in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 12, 2020.Saying this is “an Easter of solitude lived amid the sorrow and hardship that the pandemic is causing,” the Pope — broadcasting the address on the internet to the world's 1.3 billion Catholics — called for solidarity and prayer during these difficult times.
The world was already facing “epochal challenges” before the pandemic. Now, the pandemic is “severely testing our whole human family,” he said in his speech, live-streamed across the world. His address produced stark visuals. Vatican City, usually festooned with flowers to celebrate Easter, was bare and empty, as police stood next to barricades blocking visitors from St. Peter’s Basilica."Let us not lose the opportunity to give further proof of solidarity, also by turning to innovative solutions," the Pope said.
“This is not a time for division,” he continued. “May Christ our peace enlighten all who have responsibility in conflicts, that they may have the courage to support the appeal for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world.”
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
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