St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome has been open to believers again since Monday, but the Vatican is not yet as busy as it was before the onset of the coronavirus epidemic. The Wednesday audience will continue to be streamed. The Pope will also continue to speak the Angelus prayer on Sunday from his private library in the Apostolic Palace, the Vatican said on Monday.
For 68 days, almost ten weeks, St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica were closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. In the past few days, St. Peter’s Basilica had undergone thorough disinfection in several phases. The basilica of St. Paul in front of the walls and the bishop’s church of the Pope, St. Johann im Lateran, were again open to the faithful on Monday after a thorough cleaning.
With the mass in honor of John Paul II, Francis celebrated the last live morning mass broadcast on Monday. On Monday, Italy also returned to services with physically present believers. Therefore, from Tuesday, Pope Francis will resume his morning masses in the usual form – as before the Corona crisis – without a live stream.
On March 10, the Vatican decided to close St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square in order not to endanger anyone. Before the Corona pandemic broke out, St. Peter’s Basilica was open every day of the year without exception.
Source: APA
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