VATICAN CITY (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 31st May, 2020) Pope Francis addressed the faithful with the Sunday prayer from the window of the Vatican Apostolic Palace for the first time since the coronavirus-related restrictions were introduced in March, the Holy See said in a press release.
The last time Pope Francis appeared in the window to address the faithful with the Sunday prayer was on March 1. After that, Francis held traditional Sunday audiences in the library of the Apostolic Palace online to avoid huge gatherings of people amid the pandemic.
"At midday today, Solemnity of Pentecost, the Holy Father Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray the Regina Caeli with the faithful and pilgrims present in Saint Peter's Square," the press release said.
After a three-month break, Pope Francis began his first appeal to believers from the window of the Apostolic Palace with the words "Dear brothers and sisters, good day! Today that the square is open, we can return. It is a pleasure!"
The pope paid great attention to the Feast of Pentecost, which is celebrated on Sunday by the Roman Catholic Church. In the morning, in the presence of a few believers, he celebrated a Mass in Saint Peter's Basilica for the holiday, which commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the first Christian community.
He also called for solidarity towards those sick amid the pandemic and thanked those who offered help to take care of others in this period.
Pope Francis also proposed a special prayer for doctors, volunteers and all medical workers who gave their lives to save people from the coronavirus.
Several dozen believers and pilgrims, who gathered in the main square of the Vatican, applauded Pope Francis. All those who came to the Vatican this Sunday were examined at the entrance to the square by special thermal scanners and kept a social distance during the prayer.
