Deacons gathered at the Vatican on Sunday, anticipating a Mass that was scheduled to be led by Pope Francis. Despite the pontiff’s absence, the service proceeded as planned, drawing a significant number of faithful attendees who had come to participate in the sacred event.
The Mass, typically celebrated by Pope Francis himself, was instead presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. This arrangement was necessitated by the Pontiff’s ongoing recovery from an injury sustained earlier this month. Despite the change in leadership, the spirit of the service remained undiminished, with attendees expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to participate.
The Vatican had previously announced that Pope Francis would not be leading the Sunday Mass due to his continued recuperation. This marked the second consecutive week that the Pontiff missed the traditional public Mass held at St. Peter’s Square. His absence has sparked concern among Catholics worldwide, who have been praying for his swift recovery.
In a statement released by the Vatican, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude for the prayers and well-wishes he had received during his convalescence. He assured the faithful that he was making progress in his recovery and looked forward to resuming his public duties as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the Vatican has not yet provided a specific timeline for the Pontiff’s return to his normal schedule. However, reports suggest that Pope Francis is eager to resume his pastoral activities and is working diligently towards regaining his full strength.
The Sunday Mass was just one of several events that Pope Francis had to miss due to his injury. The Pontiff has also canceled scheduled meetings with heads of state and other official engagements. Despite these setbacks, the Vatican remains optimistic about the Pontiff’s recovery and anticipates his return to full duties in the near future.