Pilgrims braved the cold in St. Peter's Square to pray the Angelus with Pope Francis.
On World Leprosy Day, the Pope called for unified action to eradicate Leprosy, which had nearly 130,000 new cases worldwide in 2020, and primarily affects communities in Africa and Asia.
POPE FRANCIS
It is necessary to work together towards the full integration of these people, overcoming every form of discrimination associated with a sickness that unfortunately still afflicts many people, especially in the most disadvantaged social contexts.
Ahead of the Lunar New Year, the Pope expressed his hope that families would soon be able come get together to celebrate the occasion, and welcome a year marked by peace, tranquility, and security.
POPE FRANCIS
How beautiful it is when families find opportunities to gather together and experience moments of love and joy! Many families, unfortunately, will not be able to get together this year because of the pandemic. I hope that we will soon be able to overcome this trial.
He also extended his best wishes to the Salesian community ahead of the feast day of St. John Bosco, the Italian priest who worked to educate poor children in Northern Italy and founded the congregation that ran the school Pope Francis attended at as a boy in Buenos Aires.
POPE FRANCIS
We think of this great Saint, father and teacher of the young. He did not shut himself up in the sacristy, he did not close himself off in his own things. He went out into the streets to look for young people, with the creativity that was his hallmark. Best wishes to all Salesians!
The Pope closed the Angelus by greeting the Catholic Action group of the diocese of Rome, which released balloons in St. Peter's Square as a sign of hope for a more peaceful future.
JM
