While Italy on lockdown due to coronavirus, the pontiff works in the normal regime. On Wednesday, he held his first virtual general audience, during which he express his sincere gratitude to all medical staff but urging the believers not to forget the plight of refugees.
Traditionally, most of Pope Francis’ general audiences are held in St. Peter’s Square and attract tens of thousands of people. The outbreak of coronavirus made Italians self-isolate themselves to avoid the worsening the situation. Under these uneasy circumstances, they definitely should have an access to spiritual food.
While St.Peter’s square was empty on Wednesday as the Vatican, Pope Francis holds his first-ever virtual general audience. The pontiff and ten priests have gathered in the official papal library for Wednesday audience that was streamed on the internet and broadcast live on television. All clerics were sitting in a horseshoe pattern of chairs with space between them, according to the antivirus instructions.
Pope Francis used the technologies to bring some spiritual food to believers amid coronavirus epidemic
Last week, the pontiff has suspended all similar public appearances, said he felt close to “all the sick people who have contracted the virus and are suffering from sickness and the many who are suffering from uncertainty”.
The 83-year-old pontiff thanked medical staff and volunteers who work hard “in this very difficult moment”. Alas, Italy is the worst-affected country in the world after China, with some 631 deaths and 10,149 confirmed cases.
Commenting on fears of virus, Francis said that “this pain, this epidemic,” should not make the world forget about Syrian refugees on the Greek-Turkish border. Pope thanked believers of all faiths who were praying for an end to the epidemic.
“All united, regardless of which religion they belong to. Heartfelt thanks for this effort,” he said.
