Rome, Italy
AP
Pope Francis urged people to follow recommendations from governments and health authorities to prevent coronavirus infections as he returned to his private library for his Wednesday general audience amid a surge of infections in Europe.
In another sign that the Vatican was re-entering a semi-lockdown mode again, the Holy See announced that it was shuttering the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel to the public until at least 3rd December.
As it was – In this Wednesday, 28th October, 2020 file photo, Pope Francis, white figure on stage, delivers his speech in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican during his weekly general audience. Francis urged people follow recommendations from governments and health authorities to prevent coronavirus infections as, on Wednesday, 4th November, he returned to his private library for his general audience amid a surge of infections in Europe. PICTURE: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino/file photo.
The museums, which are a major source of revenue for the Holy See, had reopened on 1st June after a nearly three-month shutdown during the first wave of the outbreak.
The Vatican announced last week that Francis, 83, was suspending public audiences and would celebrate all upcoming liturgies without throngs of faithful present. It made the decision after someone who attended the Pope’s 21st October audience tested positive, 13 Swiss Guards who protect the Pope came down with the virus and Italy reimposed new restrictions on gatherings to try to tame resurging infections.
POPE TIGHTENS OVERSITE ON CREATION OF NEW RELIGIOUS ORDERS
Pope Francis on Wednesday tightened oversight on creating new religious orders to exert more Vatican control over the process and prevent charlatans from duping the faithful.
The new law was approved as the Vatican in recent years has cracked down on the founders of some religious orders and lay institutes after they were found to have been religious frauds who sexually or spiritually abused their members.
Usually, religious orders begin as small “institutes of consecrated life” that are approved by a local bishop to operate in his diocese. Over time, if they attract more members, they can apply to the Vatican to get pontifical recognition, like the Jesuits or Missionaries of Charity.
Already the Vatican in 2016 told local bishops they must consult with it before approving a new religious order or risk having their decisions overturned. The new law goes further and requires written Vatican approval before a bishop can approve a new order.
The new law says greater Vatican oversight was necessary to ensure the new orders meet the criteria of having a unique charism, or founding spirit, and to prevent unsustainably small communities from sprouting up in diocese after diocese.
“The faithful have the right to be advised by their pastors about the authenticity of the charisms and about the trustworthiness of those who present themselves as founders,” the law said.
In recent years, the Vatican has either removed or defrocked founders of several religious communities in Latin America and Europe after investigations uncovered abuses of authority, spiritual and sexual abuse.
The affected orders include the Mexico-based Legion of Christ, Peru-based Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, Argentina-based Miles Christi and the French Community of St John, among others.
– NICOLE WINFIELD, AP
Francis held his audience Wednesday in his private library with around 10 priests to translate summaries of his catechism lesson, which was livestreamed.
It was the same setup Francis used during the Vatican’s nearly three-month COVID-19 lockdown in the spring and summer. Then, he complained it felt like he was in a “cage” and unable to mingle with his flock.
In his opening remarks, Francis said “unfortunately” it was necessary to return to the library to prevent infections.
“This tells us we have to be very attentive to the prescriptions of political and health authorities to defend us against the pandemic,” Francis said. “We offer to the Lord this distance among us for the good of all.”
He offered special prayers for the sick, doctors, nurses, volunteers and all those working with the sick “who are risking their lives but do it out of love, their vocation and love of the other.”
The priests kept their distance from Francis during the audience but no one wore protective face masks.
Francis resumed his general audiences in public on 2nd September, inviting small groups of faithful into a Vatican courtyard and the Vatican auditorium. He drew criticism on social media and from some within the Vatican for refusing to wear a face mask when he greeted priests at the end of the weekly encounter.
At the end of Wednesday’s audience, Francis offered prayers for the victims of recent “deplorable” attacks in Europe. He cited the deadly Nice church attack and the Vienna shooting and denounced how some use violence and hatred to disrupt fraternity among people.
