| DATE: Friday, March 27 TIME: LOCAL SOUTH AFRICAN TIME 7:00 pm ROME TIME 6:00 pm |
| In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis will be giving an extraordinary blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) at 6 p.m. Rome time (7:00 pm South Africa Time) on Friday March 27 to an ’empty’ St Peter’s Square. The ceremony will consist in readings from the Scriptures, prayers of supplication, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; and will conclude with Pope Francis giving the Urbi et orbi Blessing. The blessing “to the City [of Rome] and to the World” is normally only given on Christmas and Easter. The formal blessing carries with it a plenary indulgence for all who follow by television, internet or radio, are sorry for their sins, recite a few prescribed prayers and promise to go to confession and to receive the Eucharist as soon as possible. “To the pandemic of the virus we want to respond with the universality of prayer, compassion and tenderness,” the Pope said. “Let’s stay united. Let us make those who are alone and tested feel our closeness,” as well as doctors, nurses, other healthcare workers and volunteers. “These days we are hearing the news of so many people who are dying, men and women who are dying alone without being able to say goodbye to their loved ones. Let us think about them and pray for them,” Pope Francis said. “For families as well, who cannot accompany their loved ones on that journey, we pray in a special way for the dying and for their families,” he said. |
| WAYS TO WATCH Please check the below beforehand to confirm. VATICAN NEWS: The prayer and blessing will be broadcast live on the Vatican News website (6 p.m. Rome time / 7 p.m SA time). CatholicTV: Watch the live stream on http://catholictv.org or www.catholictv.org/watch-live OR on Facebook: @CatholicTV EWTN: The blessing will be broadcast on EWTN tape delay by EWTN-TV, both on television and online (www.ewtn.com/tv/watch-live) Another Site: https://www.archspm.org/popeblessing/ |