Covid-19: like Easter, the Vatican is preparing to experience a Christmas without the faithful
Swiss guards in the Paul VI hall during a meeting between Pope Francis and Vatican employees on December 21, 2020. AP - Gregorio Borgia
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2 min
Like Easter, at the height of the Covid-19 epidemic, Christmas will be celebrated without worshipers in the Vatican this year.
Due to the health crisis and the new confinement in Italy until January 6, Pope Francis was forced to adapt his program.
It is in front of their screens that many faithful will follow the celebrations of the Sovereign Pontiff.
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With our correspondent in the Vatican,
Éric Sénanque
For the second time of the year, Pope Francis will not go out on the loggia, the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica to greet and bless the faithful on Christmas Day.
Saint Peter's Square will be empty this year.
As in previous months,
the Vatican has kept pace with Italian health measures.
This evening of December 24, for the first time, “midnight mass” was anticipated at 7:30 p.m., the Pope will preside over it in St. Peter's Basilica in front of a greatly reduced attendance.
The Christmas message "Urbi et Orbi", "to the city and to the world" will be delivered to him this Friday without an audience from the room of blessings, located inside the basilica.
Live video
Until January 6, when Italy will remain entirely in the “red zone”, the Pope's Angelus will also be live video again from the library of the Apostolic Palace.
As was the case for the Easter weekend, and in accordance with the wishes of the Sovereign Pontiff, the streaming ceremonies will be broadcast in sign language by the Vatican media, in a desire to reach as many people as possible.
Despite this confined and somewhat austere Christmas, Pope Francis recalled this Wednesday that a simple phone call to isolated or needy people was enough to send them "
a ray of Christmas light
".
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Vatican
Coronavirus
Pope Francis
Health and medicine