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17 April 2020Celebrating Mass without people "is a danger", these remote modalities are linked "to the difficult moment" but "the Church is with the people, with the sacraments". We cannot "viralize the Church, the sacraments, the people". "It is true that in this moment" it is necessary to celebrate at a distance but "to get out of the tunnel, not to remain so" because the Church "is concrete familiarity with the people". "This is not the Church, it is a Church in a difficult situation". Pope Francis said this in the homily of the mass in Santa Marta.



The Pope stressed that following the Mass "with the media" by doing "spiritual communion" cannot be considered a normal way of living the faith. "We are together but we are not together" because "only the community is the Church, the Church is with the people and with the sacraments". Then he reported about "a good bishop" who had invited him to celebrate the rites of Holy Week "with 20-30 people because 'the basilica is big and so you can see the people'. I thought 'what's in his head' , a good bishop. Then I understood: it meant 'be careful, do not viralize the Church, do not viralize the sacraments, do not viralize the people of God' because they are concrete. It is true that at this moment "one can only use the means of communication to celebrate mass but this is done "to get out of the tunnel, not to remain like this". The Church is "concrete familiarity with the sacraments and the faithful people of God", concluded Pope Francis



"Let us pray for pregnant women, the Lord give them courage"


The Pope today addressed his thoughts to pregnant women worried by the health emergency. "Today I would like us to pray for the women who are expecting, the pregnant women" who because of the emergency "worry" and wonder "in which world my child will come". "Let us pray for them - said Pope Francis in the introduction to the Mass at Santa Marta - that the Lord give them the courage" to face this moment.