Vatican City, Mar 27, 2021 / 07:00 am
The Vatican Dicastery for Communication has released a book marking the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ extraordinary “Urbi et Orbi” blessing as the coronavirus pandemic swept the world.
Pope Francis presided over a time of solemn prayer and Eucharistic adoration on March 27, 2020, before offering the blessing in an empty, rainswept St. Peter’s Square.
As hospitals struggled to care for a vast wave of patients infected by COVID-19, the pope spoke about faith and trust in God, reflecting on the disciples’ experience when their boat was caught in a violent storm.
“We have an anchor: by his cross we have been saved. We have a rudder: by his cross we have been redeemed. We have a hope: by his cross we have been healed and embraced so that nothing and no one can separate us from his redeeming love,” Francis said during the event, known as the Statio Orbis.