Nor this Wednesday Pope Francis has found strength to read the full text of the catechesis that had prepared him. Francisco has read a line or two and requested help from one of its collaborators. With good humor he added that « … Next time »hopes to read it personally.
«Dear brothers and sisters. On our path of catechesis about Jesus, which is our hope, in this jubilee, today we stop on his birth in Bethlehem, ”said the Pope this Wednesday at the beginning of the general audience before some 7,000 pilgrims. “And now I allow myself to ask the priest, the rector, to continue to read this catechesis, because with my bronchitis I can not read yet …”, he explained. “I hope to get it next time,” he added smiling.
Difficulties in your breathing
Francisco looked good, was smiling and greeted known faces in the first rows of the great audience hall. However, when he spoke it was noted that he is very cold and showed obvious breathing difficulties.
Already last Wednesday the Pope asked one of his collaborators to read catechesis, but on that occasion, he did read some brief greetings to groups of pilgrims. On this occasion he has only read the summary of catechesis in Spanish and greetings in Italian.
«From the womb, Jesus was always on his way. First, from Nazareth to the house of Isabel and Zacarías; Then, from Nazareth to Bethlehem to meet the census. This shows the humility of God, which does not evade or undermine the structures of the world, ”he said in Spanish.
Prayer for Peace
In his brief greeting to Italian pilgrims he has departed from the text he had prepared to ask for prayers for peace. «I think of so many countries that are at war. Let’s pray for peace. Let’s do our best for peace. Do not forget that war is always a defeat. We have not been born to kill, but to grow peace. That are paths of peace. Request peace for the abused Ukraine, -which suffers-, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, Kivu del Norte, South Sudan … let’s make penance for peace, ”he said with a little effort.
After the audience, the Pope has greeted a dozen bishops, and then he has approached the area where the pilgrims were to greet the newly married couples and some guests.
Since last Thursday, the Pontiff is having work audiences at Casa Santa Marta, and not at the “official” headquarters for these meetings, the Apostolic Palace. There, the high representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas met with the Pope on Monday. «We talk about the Russian war in Ukraine and the need for a fair and lasting peace that guarantees the future of Ukraine. I also thanked his holiness for his firm leadership in the protection of the most vulnerable and the defense of human dignity, ”Kallas explained in a message on social networks.
“I am sick,” he also explained on Monday to the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris. “I have bronchitis, I live here (in the building of Casa Santa Marta) and I cannot leave,” he entrusted to them. The delegation proposed to organize this year in Paris a Christian-Muslim encounter inspired by San Agustín.
#Pope #interrupts #speech #bronchitis #hope #time
