Lyon (AFP)
Since the beginning of the containment decided against the threat of the coronavirus, the diocese of Lyon has been meeting its faithful on the internet, maintaining with them a link as spiritual as virtual in these troubled times.
Tuesday evening, in the Saint-Irénée chapel of the archbishopric of Lyon, the auxiliary bishop Emmanuel Gobilliard celebrated mass with the only spectator being a technician who ensured the good transmission of the camera connected to the Youtube channel of the diocese .
On the other side, facing their screens, several hundred faithful deprived of religious gatherings.
"I have to do the questions and the answers, but hey, there is at least one who is present, it is the good Lord", he jokes.
"I try to make it as alive as possible. I talk to them. I think about them. I especially want to keep the human and spiritual ties. People are quite receptive. Some are moved that we can continue these celebrations in difficulty ", continues Mgr. Gobilliard, referring to" encouraging comments "among the more than 1,500 views recorded at each daily meeting.
From the first day of confinement, the diocese summoned its faithful every day at 6.15 p.m. for vespers, rosaries, masses and for the Way of the Cross on Friday.
Wednesday, the great mass of the Annunciation celebrated at the Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière basilica could well break records of views.
Since the introduction of containment measures, places of worship have been allowed to remain open by the government, but gatherings of more than 20 people are prohibited.
Emmanuel Macron also warned on Monday the representatives of religions that the April holidays (Jewish and Christian Easter, start of Ramadan) will have to be "without gathering", which should lead many faithful to turn to their screens.
On Sunday, audiences for the TV show "The Day of the Lord" tripled to an unprecedented level, reaching 1.7 million viewers.
© 2020 AFP