In March, the pope celebrated seven years as pontiff, and during the most critical period of the pandemic, this gesture marked the history of his pontificate.
At 83 years old, under the rain, in 51 degrees Fahrenheit and in front of a deserted St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis sent this message to humanity.
POPE FRANCIS
Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void that stops everything as it passes by; we feel it in the air, we notice in people’s gestures, their glances give them away. We find ourselves afraid and lost.
In March, the long lines of pilgrims waiting to enter St. Peter’s Basilica disappeared due to the pandemic.
The same thing happened to the line leading to the entrance of the Vatican Museums.
The pope stopped celebrating events with pilgrims. The General Audience and the Angelus were held behind closed doors. His daily Masses were transmitted worldwide online. There, he sent a message to those in the front line of the fight against the pandemic.
POPE FRANCIS
I thank all Christians, all men and women of goodwill, who are praying at this moment, all united, no matter which religious tradition they belong to.
Pope Francis granted a plenary indulgence to people at risk of death and to those infected with Covid-19, their families, medical staff and their caretakers.
Outside Vatican walls, iconic Roman monuments and squares like Trevi Fountain, Trinità dei Monti and Piazza di Spagna, became deserted. Usually crowded with thousands of visitors each day, Rome's busy historical center dramatically changed due to the lockdown.
Every evening, people came out of their balconies to break the silence with music.
Singing the national anthem became the rallying cry.
They also improvised other songs and rhythms.
People repeated this scene every day as they struggled not to lose their joy during the hardest period of the lockdown.
Daniel Díaz Vizzi
Translation: Christian Campos
