It's a Very Lonely Palm Sunday

Pope Francis celebrates Mass without the public
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 5, 2020 6:43 AM CDT
It's a Very Lonely Palm Sunday
A man stands in front of St. Peter's Square and Basilica during Pope Francis' weekly general audience, streamed by the Vatican television due to restrictions to contain the Covid-19 virus, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 1, 2020.   (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis is celebrating Palm Sunday Mass without the public, reports the AP, since the traditional ceremony in St. Peter’s Square was scrapped because of the coronavirus pandemic. Normally, tens of thousands of Romans, tourists, and pilgrims, clutching olive tree branches or palm fronds would have flocked to an outdoor Mass led by the pontiff. Instead, Francis was leading the ceremony inside St. Peter’s Basilica, which seemed even more cavernous than usual because it was so empty. Besides his aides, a few invited prelates, nuns, and laypeople were present, sitting solo in the first pews and staggered yards apart to reduce the risks of contagion. Looking pensive, Francis blessed braided palms held by the others, then held one himself.

Palm Sunday solemnly opens Holy Week leading up to Easter, which this year falls on April 12. The Vatican has announced Francis will preside over all the traditional ceremonies without the public in keeping with lockdown measures in Italy and at the Vatican to contain the spread of COVID-19. Among the usual events is the Good Friday Way of the Cross procession. This year, instead of the customary candlelit procession at Rome's Colosseum, the Way of the Cross will be presided over by Francis in St. Peter's Square. The Vatican has said there are seven cases of COVID-19 among the residents or employees of the tiny independent city state.

(More Palm Sunday stories.)

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