Urbi et Orbi Blessing
Pope Francis will give an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing this week with an opportunity for Catholics to receive a plenary indulgence by tuning in via media.
“This Friday, 27 March at 6pm Rome time, I will preside over a moment of prayer outside St Peter's Basilica with the square empty. I invite everyone to participate spiritually through the media,” Pope Francis said.
“Urbi et Orbi” means “To the City [of Rome] and to the World.” It is a special apostolic blessing given by the pope from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica every year on Easter Sunday, Christmas, and other special occasions.
Pope Francis said the 27 March prayer broadcast for those suffering from the coronavirus pandemic will include listening to the Word of God and Eucharistic Adoration.
Pope Francis called for all Christians to respond to the coronavirus pandemic “with the universality of prayer, of compassion, of tenderness”, adding, “Let us remain united. Let us make our closeness felt toward those persons who are the most lonely and tried”.
On Wednesday, 25 March, the feast of the Annunciation, the Pope has invited “the Heads of the Churches and the leaders of every Christian community, together with all Christians of the various confessions, to invoke the Almighty, the omnipotent God, to recite at the same time the prayer that Jesus, our Lord, taught us” – the Our Father. “On that day on which many Christians recall the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary of the Incarnation of the Word”, Pope Francis prayed, “may the Lord listen to the united prayer of all of His disciples who are preparing themselves to celebrate the victory of the Risen Christ”.
Vatican News: Pope calls for Christians to unite in prayer for end to pandemic
Vatican News video channel