VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis on the final minute skipped studying his homily throughout a Palm Sunday Mass for tens of hundreds of individuals St. Peter’s Sq. however continued presiding on the service.
In latest weeks the 87-year-old pope has been struggling on and off from bronchitis and influenza and has delegated an aide to learn his addresses for him however on Sunday his ready textual content was not learn in any respect.
It is vitally uncommon for a pope to completely skip a homily at a significant occasion akin to Palm Sunday.
The Vatican gave no speedy clarification for why the pope skipped the homily. The tv protection confirmed solely the gang for a couple of minutes, as an alternative of a detailed up of the pope.
An announcer on Vatican Radio then mentioned the pope had determined to not learn the homily. The pope, wearing purple vestments, continued presiding, studying components of the Mass.
Cardinals, clergymen and bishops took half within the service that commemorates what the Bible says was Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem days earlier than he was betrayed, placed on trial and executed by crucifixion.
They, together with contributors within the crowd, held palm fronds and olive branches on the service, which marks the beginning of Holy Week, a busy interval resulting in Easter.
Due to his knee ailment, for greater than a yr Francis has been presiding at Lots whereas sitting close to the altar whereas a cardinals acts as the principle celebrant.
After the Mass, Francis delivered his weekly Sunday Angelus message and blessing. REUTERS
