Vatican City
AP
Well-spaced faithful have gathered in St Peter’s Square for the first time in months for the traditional Sunday papal blessing.
They cast their gaze at the window where the Pope normally addresses the faithful.
Pope Francis delivers his blessing from the window of his studio overlooking St Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, on Sunday, 24th May. PICTURE: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini.
Pope Francis has been delivering the blessing from inside the Apostolic library during the epidemic.
Francis recalled his scheduled visit on Sunday to the Naples area to draw attention to environmental damage caused by toxic-waste dumping by the mob.
The visit – cancelled during the pandemic – was timed to mark the fifth anniversary of his ecological manifesto, and the pope announced a year of reflection on his 2015 environmental encyclical, Praised Be.
Francis came to the window and waved to the people in the piazza at the end of the blessing.
