By Verghese V Joseph –
Vatican: The Holy Father Francis has invited Catholics from all over the world to join him spiritually in prayer today at 10.30 pm (India time) during this time of emergency for humanity. The prayer will be held in the Church Square of St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican. Indian Catholic Matters has made special arrangements to to telecast it live on its platform. You can watch the proceedings live from your mobile, laptop or desktop.
In this Statio orbis (global prayer gathering) event, which will be broadcast, telecast and webcast live worldwide, the Holy Father will grant all the participants Plenary Indulgence and will also give the Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) Blessing, according to the conditions provided for in the recent decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary.
On Sunday during the Angelus, Pope Francis said, “In these days of trial, while humanity trembles with the threat of the pandemic, I would like to propose to all Christians to unite their voices towards Heaven. I invite all the heads of the Churches and the leaders of all the Christian communities, together with all the Christians of the various confessions, to invoke the Most High, Almighty God, while simultaneously reciting the prayer that Jesus Our Lord has taught us. So I invite everyone to do it several times a day, but, all together, to recite the Our Father next Wednesday 25 March at noon , all together. On the day when many Christians remember the announcement to the Virgin Mary of the Incarnation of the Word, may the Lord hear the unanimous prayer of all his disciples who are preparing to celebrate the victory of the Risen Christ.”
“With this same intention, next Friday March 27, at 6 pm (Italy time), I will preside over a moment of prayer on the churchyard of St. Peter’s Basilica, with the square empty. As of now, I invite everyone to participate spiritually through the media. We will listen to the Word of God, raise our supplication, adore the Blessed Sacrament, with which at the end I will give the Urbi et Orbi Blessing , to which the possibility of receiving the plenary indulgence will be attached,” he added.
“We want to respond to the pandemic of the virus with the universality of prayer, compassion, tenderness. Let’s stay united. We make our closeness feel to the loneliest and most experienced people. Our proximity to doctors, health workers, nurses and nurses, volunteers … Our proximity to the authorities who must take tough measures, but for our own good. Our closeness to the policemen, to the soldiers who always try to maintain order on the road, so that the things the government asks to do for the good of all of us are accomplished. Proximity to everyone.” the Holy Father urged.