Pope Francis announces extraordinary 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing March 27
Pope Francis delivers the Angelus livestreamed from the library of the Apostolic Palace on 22 March 2020. The Holy Father announced he will give an extraordinary blessing "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) at 6 pm Rome time Friday 27 March in an "empty" St Peter's Square because all of Italy is on lockdown to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. Photo: CNS/Vatican Media.
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service
In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis has said he will give an extraordinary blessing "Urbi et Orbi" (to the City and the world) at 6 pm Rome time March 27.
The formal blessing -- usually given only immediately after a new pope's election and on Christmas and Easter -- carries with it a plenary indulgence for all who follow by television, internet or radio, are sorry for their sins, recite a few prescribed prayers and promise to go to confession and to receive the Eucharist as soon as possible.
After reciting the Angelus prayer March 22 from the library of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis announced his plans for the special blessing, which, he said, would be given in an "empty" St Peter's Square because all of Italy is on lockdown to prevent further spread of the virus.
With the public joining him only by television, internet or radio, "we will listen to the word of God, raise our prayer (and) adore the Blessed Sacrament," he said. "At the end, I will give the benediction 'urbi et orbi,' to which will be connected the possibility of receiving a plenary indulgence."
An indulgence is an ancient practice of prayer and penance for the remission of the temporal punishment a person is due for sins that have been forgiven. In Catholic teaching, a person can draw on the merits of Jesus and the saints to claim the indulgence for themselves or offer it on behalf of someone who has died.
In addition to announcing the special blessing, Pope Francis said that at a time "when humanity trembles" because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was asking Christians of every denomination to join together at noon March 25 to recite the Lord's Prayer.
The Catholic Church and many others mark March 25 as the feast of the Annunciation.
"To the pandemic of the virus we want to respond with the universality of prayer, compassion and tenderness," he said. "Let's stay united. Let us make those who are alone and tested feel our closeness," as well as doctors, nurses, other healthcare workers and volunteers.
Pope Francis also expressed concern for "authorities who have to take strong measures for our good" and the police and soldiers maintaining public order and enforcing the lockdown.
We would like to inform you (in view of any initiative in your Diocese and regarding the media, Catholic and non-Catholic, that work in it), that this coming Friday, 27 March, at 6:00 pm (CET), the Statio Orbis including the prayer presided over by the Holy Father on the sagrato of St Peter's Basilica, can be followed live through the Vatican News portal and App (www.vaticannews.va). A simultaneous translation in Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, German, Arabic and Chinese will accompany this broadcast.
The signal will be available through Worldvision. There will be no charge for any media outlet that requests to transmit the broadcast.
The Statio Orbis will conclude with Eucharistic Benediction which will be imparted Urbi et orbi via the means of communication.
Pope Francis delivers the Angelus livestreamed from the library of the Apostolic Palace on 22 March 2020. The Holy Father announced he will give an extraordinary blessing "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) at 6 pm Rome time Friday 27 March in an "empty" St Peter's Square because all of Italy is on lockdown to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. Photo: CNS/Vatican Media.