Pope Francis, who for the first time recited his traditional Sunday prayer of the Angelus by video from his private library, declared himself "close" to coronavirus patients and their caregivers. The sovereign pontiff also agreed that this prayer pronounced by a pope "in a cage in his library" was "a little strange". This measure announced on Saturday had been set to "avoid the risk of spreading" the coronavirus.
"But I see you, I'm close to you!" he added, before coming to greet at the very end, from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking Saint Peter's Square, the faithful in sparse rows who had followed him on video screens.
>> Find Fabienne Le Moal's midday journal in replay and podcast here
The Pope also asked the faithful to pray for the Syrian people
After the Angelus' prayer, the Pope had a more specific thought for people affected by the coronavirus in the world. "I am close by prayer to the people who are suffering from the current epidemic of coronavirus and to all those who care for them," he said, he who has been suffering from a simple cold for ten days .
The Pope also asked the faithful on Sunday to pray with him for "the Syrian people, and more particularly for the inhabitants of the northwest of the country forced to flee". "I reiterate my great apprehension for the inhuman situation of these defenseless people, among whom so many children who risk their lives. We must not look away in the face of this humanitarian crisis", insisted the pope gravely, welcoming associations that help Syrians.