Yesterday, the Holy See Press Centre issued the following clarification in relation to the weekly recitation of the Angelus:
In the coming days, the Holy Father's prayer of the Angelus on Sunday, 8 March will take place in the Library of the Apostolic Palace and not in the piazza, where the Holy Father usually appears at the window. The prayer will be transmitted live by Vatican News and on the jumbotron screens located throughout Saint Peter's Square. It will also be distributed by Vatican Media to the various media outlets who request it in order to permit the faithful to participate.
The General Audience for Wednesday 11 March will be shared in the same way.
These decisions have been made necessary in order to avoid the risk of spreading COVID-19 in gatherings which might assemble during the security checks which are part of gaining access to Saint Peter's Square, and in accordance with a request received from the Italian authorities.
In compliance with the provisions of the Health and Hygiene Directorate of the Vatican City State, the participation of guests at Masses celebrated in Santa Marta will be suspended until Sunday 15 March. The Holy Father will celebrate the Eucharist privately.
At noon today in Rome (6:00am EST), the Holy Father appeared on screens located throughout Saint Peter's Square to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims. This transmission was equally broadcast by various media outlets.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
The prayer of today's Angelus is a bit strange, with the Pope caged in the library, but I see you, I am close to you. And I would also like to begin by thanking that group (present in the Piazza) who manifests and fights For the forgotten of Idlib. Thank you! Thank you for what you are doing. But we are praying the Angelus today in this way so as to carry out preventive measures, to avoid small crowds of people, which can favour the transmission of the virus.
The Gospel for this second Sunday of Lent (cf Mt 17: 1-9) presents the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. He takes Peter, James and John with him and climbs a high mountain, a symbol of closeness to God, in order to open them to a fuller understanding of the mystery of his person, who will have to suffer, die and then rise again. In fact, Jesus had started talking to them about the suffering, death and resurrection that awaited him, but they could not accept that prospect. For this reason, upon reaching the top of the mountain, Jesus plunges into prayer and transfigures before the three disciples: his face - says the Gospel - shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light (Mt 17: 2) .
Through the wonderful event of the Transfiguration, the three disciples are called to recognize in Jesus the Son of God shining in glory. Thus they advance in the knowledge of their Master, realizing that the human aspect does not express its whole reality; in their eyes the afterlife and divine dimension of Jesus is revealed. And from above a voice resounds that says: This is my Son, my beloved .... Listen to him (Mt 17: 5). It is the heavenly Father who confirms the investiture - let's call it that - of Jesus which has already been made on the day of his baptism in the Jordan and which invites the disciples to listen to him and to follow him.
It should be stressed that, in the midst of the group of the Twelve, Jesus chooses to take Peter, James and John with him to the Mount. He reserves for them the privilege of witnessing the transfiguration. But why does he chose these three? Why? Are they the holiest? No. Yet Peter, in the hour of trial, will deny him; and the two brothers James and John will ask to have the first places in his kingdom (cf Mt 20: 20-23). However, Jesus does not choose according to our criteria, but according to his plan of love. The love of Jesus has no measure: it is love, and he chooses with that plan of love. It is a free, unconditional choice, a free initiative, a divine friendship that asks for nothing in return. And as he called those three disciples, so also today he calls some to be close to him, to be able to testify. Being witnesses of Jesus is a gift that we have not deserved: we feel inadequate, but we cannot hold back with the excuse of our inability.
We have not been to Mount Tabor, we have not seen with our eyes the face of Jesus shining like the sun. However, the Word of salvation has also been given to us, faith has been given and we have experienced - in different forms - the joy of meeting with Jesus. Jesus too says to us: Stand up and do not be afraid (Mt 17: 7). In this world, marked by selfishness and greed, the light of God is clouded by everyday concerns. We often say: I don't have time to pray, I am not able to carry out a service in the parish, to respond to the requests of others ... But we must not forget that the Baptism we received made us witnesses, not based on our ability, but rather through the gift of the Spirit.
In this privileged time of Lent, may the Virgin Mary obtain for us this docility to the Spirit, which is indispensable for resolutely walking the path of conversion.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet all of you who are following this moment of prayer. In particular, I greet those who are participating in the training course Animators of a new way of communicating; the faithful from Torrent, in Spain; the group of the decorated Corato; the young people from Coverciano and the First Communion children from Monteodorisio.
I greet the associations and groups that are engaging in solidarity with the Syrian people and especially with the inhabitants of the city of Idlib in north-west Syria - I see that you are here - forced to flee from the recent developments of the war. Dear brothers and sisters, I renew my great apprehension, my pain at this inhuman situation facing these defenceless people, including many children, who are risking their lives. We must not look away from this humanitarian crisis, but rather, we must give it priority over any other interest. Let us pray for these people, these brothers and sisters of ours, who are suffering so much in the north-west of Syria, in the city of Idlib.
I am close in prayer to people who are suffering from the current coronavirus epidemic and to all those who are taking care of them. I join my brother Bishops in encouraging the faithful to live this difficult moment with the strength of faith, the certainty of hope and the fervour of charity. The season of Lent helps us all to give an evangelical sense to this moment of trial and pain.
I wish you a good Sunday! And please, don't forget to pray for me. Now, I will look out, to see you a little in real time. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
Testo originale nella lingua italiana
In the coming days, the Holy Father's prayer of the Angelus on Sunday, 8 March will take place in the Library of the Apostolic Palace and not in the piazza, where the Holy Father usually appears at the window. The prayer will be transmitted live by Vatican News and on the jumbotron screens located throughout Saint Peter's Square. It will also be distributed by Vatican Media to the various media outlets who request it in order to permit the faithful to participate.
The General Audience for Wednesday 11 March will be shared in the same way.
These decisions have been made necessary in order to avoid the risk of spreading COVID-19 in gatherings which might assemble during the security checks which are part of gaining access to Saint Peter's Square, and in accordance with a request received from the Italian authorities.
In compliance with the provisions of the Health and Hygiene Directorate of the Vatican City State, the participation of guests at Masses celebrated in Santa Marta will be suspended until Sunday 15 March. The Holy Father will celebrate the Eucharist privately.
At noon today in Rome (6:00am EST), the Holy Father appeared on screens located throughout Saint Peter's Square to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims. This transmission was equally broadcast by various media outlets.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
The prayer of today's Angelus is a bit strange, with the Pope caged in the library, but I see you, I am close to you. And I would also like to begin by thanking that group (present in the Piazza) who manifests and fights For the forgotten of Idlib. Thank you! Thank you for what you are doing. But we are praying the Angelus today in this way so as to carry out preventive measures, to avoid small crowds of people, which can favour the transmission of the virus.
The Gospel for this second Sunday of Lent (cf Mt 17: 1-9) presents the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. He takes Peter, James and John with him and climbs a high mountain, a symbol of closeness to God, in order to open them to a fuller understanding of the mystery of his person, who will have to suffer, die and then rise again. In fact, Jesus had started talking to them about the suffering, death and resurrection that awaited him, but they could not accept that prospect. For this reason, upon reaching the top of the mountain, Jesus plunges into prayer and transfigures before the three disciples: his face - says the Gospel - shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light (Mt 17: 2) .
Through the wonderful event of the Transfiguration, the three disciples are called to recognize in Jesus the Son of God shining in glory. Thus they advance in the knowledge of their Master, realizing that the human aspect does not express its whole reality; in their eyes the afterlife and divine dimension of Jesus is revealed. And from above a voice resounds that says: This is my Son, my beloved .... Listen to him (Mt 17: 5). It is the heavenly Father who confirms the investiture - let's call it that - of Jesus which has already been made on the day of his baptism in the Jordan and which invites the disciples to listen to him and to follow him.
It should be stressed that, in the midst of the group of the Twelve, Jesus chooses to take Peter, James and John with him to the Mount. He reserves for them the privilege of witnessing the transfiguration. But why does he chose these three? Why? Are they the holiest? No. Yet Peter, in the hour of trial, will deny him; and the two brothers James and John will ask to have the first places in his kingdom (cf Mt 20: 20-23). However, Jesus does not choose according to our criteria, but according to his plan of love. The love of Jesus has no measure: it is love, and he chooses with that plan of love. It is a free, unconditional choice, a free initiative, a divine friendship that asks for nothing in return. And as he called those three disciples, so also today he calls some to be close to him, to be able to testify. Being witnesses of Jesus is a gift that we have not deserved: we feel inadequate, but we cannot hold back with the excuse of our inability.
We have not been to Mount Tabor, we have not seen with our eyes the face of Jesus shining like the sun. However, the Word of salvation has also been given to us, faith has been given and we have experienced - in different forms - the joy of meeting with Jesus. Jesus too says to us: Stand up and do not be afraid (Mt 17: 7). In this world, marked by selfishness and greed, the light of God is clouded by everyday concerns. We often say: I don't have time to pray, I am not able to carry out a service in the parish, to respond to the requests of others ... But we must not forget that the Baptism we received made us witnesses, not based on our ability, but rather through the gift of the Spirit.
In this privileged time of Lent, may the Virgin Mary obtain for us this docility to the Spirit, which is indispensable for resolutely walking the path of conversion.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet all of you who are following this moment of prayer. In particular, I greet those who are participating in the training course Animators of a new way of communicating; the faithful from Torrent, in Spain; the group of the decorated Corato; the young people from Coverciano and the First Communion children from Monteodorisio.
I greet the associations and groups that are engaging in solidarity with the Syrian people and especially with the inhabitants of the city of Idlib in north-west Syria - I see that you are here - forced to flee from the recent developments of the war. Dear brothers and sisters, I renew my great apprehension, my pain at this inhuman situation facing these defenceless people, including many children, who are risking their lives. We must not look away from this humanitarian crisis, but rather, we must give it priority over any other interest. Let us pray for these people, these brothers and sisters of ours, who are suffering so much in the north-west of Syria, in the city of Idlib.
I am close in prayer to people who are suffering from the current coronavirus epidemic and to all those who are taking care of them. I join my brother Bishops in encouraging the faithful to live this difficult moment with the strength of faith, the certainty of hope and the fervour of charity. The season of Lent helps us all to give an evangelical sense to this moment of trial and pain.
I wish you a good Sunday! And please, don't forget to pray for me. Now, I will look out, to see you a little in real time. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
Testo originale nella lingua italiana
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