Copyright: Zenit's Sr. Vatican Correspondent, Deborah Castellano Lubov
Pope at General Audience: Coronavirus Heeds No Distinctions Nor Barriers; Neither Must We, When Responding to COVID
In Fidelity to Our Christian Vocation
In Fidelity to Our Christian Vocation
The response to COVID19 must be without distinctions or barriers…
Pope Francis made this appeal at his weekly General Audience, today, Sept. 9, 2020, the second week since the virus’ outbreak, where faithful could be present in the Vatican’s Courtyard of San Damaso of the Apostolic Palace.
Participation remains open to all who wish, without the need for tickets. Last week Zenit was with the Pope at the Audience for his first such Audience since February.
While continuing his series of catecheses on COVID 19, Francis reflected on the current pandemic in the light of the Church’s Social Doctrine, stressing the common good must be the goal of our individual and collective efforts to heal our wounded world.
God’s unconditional love, he stressed, inspires our Christian commitment “which calls us to set no limits on our love for others and our concern for their welfare.”
Being members of one human family, the Argentine Pontiff stressed that our well-being is a public, and not simply a private, good.
“By placing every human person and the common good at the center of our cultural, economic and political activity,” Francis encouraged, “we will create a genuinely healthy, just and peaceful world, and so contribute to the building of a true ‘civilization of love.’”
“The coronavirus,” the Pontiff underscored, “heeds no cultural or political barrier or distinction – nor must we impose any barrier or distinction on our love as we work for the common good in responding to the grave problems brought to the fore by the pandemic, in fidelity to our Christian vocation.”
Pope Francis cordially greeted English-speaking faithful and following the audience via streaming.
“May the Lord’s grace,” he prayed, ” sustain all of you in bringing the Father’s love to our brothers and sisters, especially those most in need,”
Invoking the joy and peace of the Lord, upon all of them and their families, he said: “God bless you!”
Following the health indications of the Authorities, the General Audiences in September are taking place in the San Damaso Courtyard of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, starting at 9:30 a.m.
Individuals enter from the Bronze Doors of the right colonnade of St. Peter’s Square, as early as 7:30 a.m. Pilgrims are to maintain proper social distancing, sanitize hands, have temperatures taken and pass through security clearance. To reach the Courtyard of San Damaso, faithful go past the masked Swiss Guards, climb about 75 steps, before arriving at the site of the audience. It is rare for faithful and pilgrims to have access to this space.
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