Pope Francis Pope rules out East Timor visit, other trips doubtful
The Vatican representative to East Timor says a visit by Pope Francis to the region has been cancelled due to the coronavirus, with other possible trips likely to be scrapped as well.
Msgr Marco Sprizzi, Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature, told reporters in Dili that the Pope had previously indicated his willingness to visit there later this year. However, Msgr Sprizzi cited the Holy Father’s concerns about large crowds attending, saying that “because he (Pope Francis) did not want his people affected by the coronavirus, he cancelled his visit”.
The Vatican did not confirm that the Pontiff would visit Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea, but had previously been open to the possibility of traveling to South-East Asia at some stage this year.
The only foreign travel that the Vatican has confirmed for the rest of 2020 so far is a day-trip to Malta on May 31, which is also likely to be called off after Malta recently barred all air traffic to and from Italy.
The Vatican has adopted similar sweeping lockdown measures, which has been imposed throughout Italy in order to contain the spread of the virus.
Vatican prays to Mary ‘Health of the Sick’ for protection
The Church has entrusted to Jesus’ mother Mary the suffering and anguish of millions of faithful affected by the coronavirus pandemic worldwide.
In a video message last week, Pope Francis prayed before a portrait of Our Lady of Divine Love, beseeching her to “deliver us from every danger”.
“We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the Cross were near to the pain of Jesus, keeping your faith firm,” the Pope prayed on March 11.
“You, Salvation of the Roman people, know what we need, and we trust that you will provide for those needs so that, as at Cana of Galilee, joy and celebration may return after this moment of trial.
“Help us, Mother of Divine Love,” he continued. “We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
“Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.”
The Pope’s message was aired on TV2000, the TV channel of the Italian bishops’ conference, and the Diocese of Rome’s Facebook page. Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, papal vicar of Rome, celebrated Mass at Rome’s Shrine of Divine Love after the Holy Father’s broadcast.
Via Crucis meditations prepared by Padua prisoners
Pope Francis has announced this year’s meditations for the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on Good Friday have been written by prisoners in the Italian justice system.
In a letter to the people of the Veneto region of Italy, the Pope has shared “a beautiful page of charity” for this year.
The Holy Father asked prisoners from the “Due Palazzi” penitentiary in Padua to compose the meditations for the Way of the Cross celebrated annually on Good Friday.
The Pope said he wanted the meditations to be “a choral work”, with contributions from all “the various faces of the world of prisons: victims, prisoners, guards, volunteers, families, judges, teachers, the Church, innocent people who at times are unjustly accused”.
Prison, according to Pope Francis, is “a kaleidoscope of situations”, where there is a risk of focusing on a single detail, to the detriment of the whole. He said: “The resurrection of a person is never the work of an individual, but of the community working together”.