Pope pushes through nerve pain to give New Year's blessing

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis ushered in the New Year on Friday with a traditional Angelus blessing from the papal library, pushing through nerve pain that forced him to skip New Year’s ceremonies in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The pope appeared relaxed as he stood at a lectern in the Apostolic Palace wishing the faithful watching via video “a year of peace, a year of hope.” He smiled into the camera as he repeated his customary sign-off, “don’t forget to pray for me,” and wishing everyone “a good lunch.”

The papal blessing was moved inside from the usual perch at a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square to discourage crowds as Italy is living under tighter COVID-19 restrictions this holiday season.

The Vatican on Friday announced that the pope would not preside over a New Year’s Eve prayer service nor the New Year’s Day Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica due to “painful sciatica.”



Two people stand in an empty St.Peter's Square, at the Vatican, as Pope Francis recites the Angelus noon prayer in his studio Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-holidays-pope-francis-europe-vatican-city-482781b045c7f3f2d2568f00dfc76835

[BusyBeingBest]

1. Owie--my husband gets sciatica attacks.

Get well soon, Francis.

[stopbush]

2. Yeah, I'm sure that blessing is going to make a big difference this year.

Religious claptrap.

[spike jones]

3. There is a reason the Pope's official rulings are called Bulls. n/t

[stopbush]

4. Just like there's a reason it's called the Buy-bull.

[alphafemale]

11. Exactly how are Christians oppressed in this country?

Calling a myth a myth is hardly oppression.

Contrarily, do you think an Atheist could be elected President in this county?

[mahina]

5. Isn't it wonderful to live in a free country

You are free to not believe and I am free I have my faith

I will never try to change anybody’s mind about their own beliefs or not

And none of it is anybody else’s business

[stopbush]

6. Would that faith didn't impose itself on the lives of Americans who reject such bullshit

But it does.

[ucrdem]

12. Yeah yeah.

Religion gave us hospitals, schools and universities, also literacy, so there's that.

[alphafemale]

13. Exactly

Being an open Atheist can lead to loss of employment or even violence and it will be cheered.