POPE FRANCIS ANNOUNCES WORLDWIDE PRAYER AND EXTRAORDINARY “URBI ET ORBI” BLESSING.
In today’s Angelus address, Pope Francis called on all Christians to respond to the present coronavirus pandemia “with the universality of prayer, of compassion, of tenderness.” He also requested unity in the midst of adversity saying, “Let us remain united. Let us make our closeness felt toward those persons who are the most lonely and tried”. “In these trying days, while humanity trembles due to the thread of the pandemic, I would like to propose to all Christians that together we lift our voices towards Heaven.”
Global prayer of the Our Father on March 25, 12 noon, Rome time
He invited all “the Heads of the Churches and the leaders of every Christian community, together with all Christians of the various confessions, to invoke the Almighty, the omnipotent God, to recite at the same time the prayer that Jesus, our Lord, taught us” – the Our Father. “On that day on which many Christians recall the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary of the Incarnation of the Word”, Pope Francis prayed, “may the Lord listen to the united prayer of all of His disciples who are preparing themselves to celebrate the victory of the Risen Christ”.
Adoration of Blessed Sacrament and Extraordinary Urbi et orbi blessing on March 27 at 6pm, Rome time.
Pope Francis also announced that on March 27, at 6pm, he will preside a moment of prayer at St. Peter’s Plaza, where he usually celebrates the Solemn Masses, but without the presence of the public. Thus, he invites “everyone to participate spiritually through the means of communication.”
The extraordinary ceremony consists in Scriptural readings, prayers of supplication, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and the giving of the Urbi et orbi Blessing, with the possibility of gaining a plenary indulgence — subject to the usual conditions to obtain it — for all those who listen to it live through the various forms of communication, As we know, this blessing of Urbi et orbi (to the City [of Rome] and to the World) is normally imparted only on Christmas and Easter.
The event will be broadcasted live from the Vatican, beginning at 6 pm Rome time.