Pope Francis wanted to refer to the ordeal of the coronavirus pandemic during his traditional Christmas message and his Urbi et orbi blessing to the city of Rome and the world.
This time, for reasons related to health protection measures, the pontiff did not read his message from the window of St. Peter's, but remained in an inner room of the Vatican Apostolic Palace.
More specifically, Pope Francis, among other things, stressed:
«May the infant of Bethlehem help us to be open, generous and in solidarity, especially with the weakest, with those who are sick and those who, at this time, are out of work or facing serious difficulties because of the economic consequences of the pandemic. But also with the women who have suffered domestic violence during all these months of compulsory confinement.
The Argentine Pope then wished that «the Son of the Lord may inspire those in positions of political and governmental responsibility towards a new international cooperation, starting with the health sector, to guarantee that everyone has access to vaccinations and treatments».
«In the face of a challenge that knows no borders, we cannot put up walls. We are all passengers in the same boat. Every person is my brother, in every person I see the face of God reflected, and in those who suffer I discover the Lord asking for my help. In the sick, the poor, the unemployed, the marginalized, the migrant and the refugee,» Pope Francis also underlined.
