Pope Calls Everyone to Two Special Moments of Prayer

Pope Francis has invited everyone to pray the Lord's Prayer at the same time on Wednesday, March 25, (12 noon Rome time), for an end to the pandemic. He will also give an extraordinary "Urbi et orbi" blessing on Friday, March 27, outside St. Peter's Basilica.

The Pope has called all Christians to pray an Our Father for the end of the coronavirus this Wednesday, March 25, at 12 pm Rome time. For Catholics, Wednesday is the feast of the Annunciation, or the Incarnation of the Son of God.

“I invite everyone to pray it many times a day, but everyone together, let us pray the Our Father on Wednesday, March 25 at noon. Everyone together,” he said.

He also announced that on Friday, March 27, at 6 pm Rome time, he will give an extraordinary Urbi et orbi blessing to Rome and the whole world. It will include the possibility of receiving a plenary indulgence. He will give the blessing from outside St. Peter’s Basilica, where he usually holds his General Audiences. The square will be empty. There will also be Eucharistic adoration.

"I invite everyone to participate spiritually through the various means of communication. We will listen to the Word of God, lift our intentions, adore the Blessed Sacrament, and at the end, I will give the Urbi et Orbi Blessing, with the possibility to receive a plenary indulgence."

“We want to respond to the virus pandemic with a pandemic of prayer, compassion and tenderness,” he explained.

Pope Francis has also urged everyone to remain "united" and to make our "closeness" felt by all those who are on the front line helping and protecting us in this emergency.

Libreria Editrice Vaticana / Rome Reports