Benedict discuses resignation, Iraq and Biden in new interview
- Mar 1, 2021
Religious leaders in Hong Kong sent wishes for health and happiness to mark the Lunar New Year and acknowledged the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While he skipped morning Mass due to what the Vatican called a “painful sciatica,” Pope Francis was in the saddle again for his Angelus address later in the day, reflecting on the role of Mary as Mother of God and the need for a change in attitude at the end of a tumultuous year.
The pope and the Vatican found themselves in the same spotlight they generally do over the holidays, but for unusual reasons.
On Thursday the Vatican announced that due to a “painful sciatica,” Pope Francis, who has long struggled with the condition, will be unable to celebrate the traditional papal events on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Ethiopians on Friday welcomed what many people around the world might like to see: the beginning of a new year.
Pope Francis began 2020 with a bang on Wednesday, issuing a harsh condemnation of violence against women, insisting that how society treats women and their bodies is a measure of its level of humanity.