French President Emmanuel Macron gives a phone call to Pope Francis in his office at the Elysee Palace in Paris
Photo: LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Pope and French President discuss global unity
Pope Francis has expressed his closeness and support to France during a telephone conversation with the country’s leader. The President’s office said the Pope and President Emmanuel Macron spoke for about 45 minutes last week by telephone.
The Pope positively acknowledged “the constructive responses taken by France at the international level after the health crisis caused by the pandemic”.
Although the Holy See Press Office has not released a statement about the event as yet, President Macron’s office said the two leaders also agreed on the need for a global ceasefire in all conflicts.
President Macron also announced the possibility of cancelling the debt of African countries to assist them in their fight against Covid-19 virus and, in line with the Pope, has also called for unity.
The President’s office said the two leaders stressed their convergence of views on these issues and revealed that President Macron wanted to explain how France was committed to going forward.
At the beginning of the call, President Macron reportedly also renewed his invitation to the Pope to visit France. And after, reportedly engaged in dialogue with religious leaders and secular associations in France.
Vatican prepares to ease restrictions in May
Cardinal Pietro Parolin has met with members of the Roman curia last week to discuss the gradual reopening of Holy See offices as Italy prepares to end its national lockdown. The heads of Vatican dicasteries have decided to implement a “gradual reactivation of ordinary services” starting in May.
Italy’s strict lockdown is due to end on May 4 and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced he will be releasing a plan to slowly lift the coronavirus restrictions and reopen businesses.
“I wish I could say: let’s reopen everything, immediately…but such a decision would be irresponsible. It would bring up the contagion curve uncontrollably and it would frustrate all the efforts we’ve put in so far,” said Conte.
The Holy See press office director, Matteo Bruni, has repeatedly said that the Vatican is implementing measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in coordination with the Italian authorities.
St Peter’s Basilica and square, the Vatican Museums and several other public offices in the Vatican City State have been closed for more than six weeks.
Pope Francis offers gifts on his ‘name day’
The Church celebrated St George the martyr last week and marked the occasion by delivering ventilators to Romania, Italy and Spain.
Pope Francis also offered medical equipment, masks, protective glasses for doctors and nurses and coveralls for intensive care as a gift on his “name day” to these countries particularly affected by coronavirus.
A number of hospitals are to benefit – one is in the city of Suceava, Romania, where five latest generation ventilators are expected. Another two will go to a hospital in Lecce, Italy and three more to Madrid, Spain.
“It is a beautiful sign that falls on this particular day when the Holy Father does not receive a gift but gives it to others,” said Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Papal Almoner.
Last year, the Pope donated Rosary wreaths made for World Youth Day in Panama to young people in the Archdiocese of Milan, and a 20kg chocolate egg to the poor at the Caritas canteen at Termini Station in Rome.