The Pope’s empathy for ‘the City and the World’ in a time of global pandemic

Strong in the Face of Tribulation: The Church in Communion, A Sure Support in Time of Trial, compiled and edited by the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See

(Libreria Editrice Vaticana, gratis, by download from the website of the publishing house, in pdf format; currently available in English, Italian, Spanish and French)

The scene on Friday, March 27 in St Peter’s Square when the Pope gave the blessing to the city of Rome and the world at large, was in an eerily empty space, where normally on great Church occasions the space is packed with worshipers and pilgrims, was one of the most strangely moving presentations on television in recent decades.

Countless millions were present in spirit in that silent, rain-washed space.

The rituals, prayers and homilies reflect the Pope reaching out to the world in this terrible time for many countries and countless families and individuals.

He is a true pastor, reaching out to sustain and fortify the afflicted in a time of woe.

The US is filled with mourning, but its people have not yet realised the true scale of the nation’s loss over recent months”

Everyone is wrapped in his sense of charity, and warmed by the blessing his imparts in the name of Jesus Christ. Many will be grateful to have this record, for much that is in it will come to remind and reward them by re-reading in years to come.

This is a substantial enough book, running to over 180 pages. It is in three parts. It provides a record of the prayers and ceremonies for separate needs. The second part explains how people, at a time when churches are closed, can express and feel a sense of communion with God and others, how they can attain the expurgation of their sins while the confessionals are closed. These pages alone are of great value.

The third part records the words on the present predicament of humanity since the end of February. These texts are not in any way finalised, but will be undated and revised at time goes on, so the book ought to be revisited later on.

It is above all a record of the most moving ceremony in St Peter’s which engaged the world, with the Pope, his own frailties of age undisguised, seeming in a way to carry on his shoulders the troubles, the real troubles, of the world.

One would not like to see the need again for such a thing. But many will like to have this record to look back and evidence as the deep empathy for the afflicted of Pope Francis.

Echo

‘An Extraordinary Prayer in the Time of Pandemic’ was a sombre echo of an announcement by Italian officials minutes earlier that day that the coronavirus death toll in the country had surged past 9,000 in total.

What it is today in the US, now the worst-affected country in the world, is unclear as the victims seem not all to have been assessed or counted properly.

That country is filled with mourning, but its people have not yet realised the true scale of the nation’s loss over recent months. It is set now at over 73,000 deaths, but will go higher.

A unit of the White House staff predicts many more Americans falling ill, 3,000 a day dying, by June 1.

Total deaths at the end, whenever it comes, may be well over 200,000.

Imparting his traditional blessing ‘to the City and the World’, Pope Francis embraced the world in its pain. As Vicar of Christ he demonstrated that the Saviour’s role was to suffer, and not to live to reign in earthly power. Love in all its aspects represents the true values of Jesus and Christians today.

For many, indeed for those millions mentioned above, anything else is a negation of Faith.