By Melissa Butz
Pope Francis invites all Christians to join in through various means of communication.
Despite the coronavirus lockdown and virtual connection, Pope Francis is uniting all Christians in a special way this week to pray for an end of the pandemic.
Pope Francis has announced two important events for Christians of every denomination. The first one will take place Wednesday, March 25, and will be offered for an end of the coronavirus.
“Let us pray the Our Father on Wednesday, March 25 at noon, everyone together,” said Pope Francis.
The pontiff also announced this Friday, there will be a moment of prayer, which will finish with an Urbi et Orbi blessing. It is given only on special occasions, since it offers a plenary indulgence, which removes all temporal punishment for sin.
It will take place on Friday, March 27 at 6 p.m., Rome time, to an empty St. Peter’s Square.
“We will listen to the Word of God, lift our intentions, adore the Blessed Sacrament, and at the end, I will give the Urbi et Orbi Blessing, with the possibility to receive a plenary indulgence,” the Holy Father said.
He added that order to confront the virus and remain united, Christians must respond with prayer, compassion and mercy.
He once again affirmed his closeness to doctors, nurses and police, who are risking their lives for the good of everyone during the coronavirus.
Pope Francis’s desire for unity will carry on into Holy Week and Easter Sunday, when Christians still will not be together in person.
However, the religious events during that week will continue to be livestreamed from the Vatican for everyone to participate in from home.