Lucrezia Ciotti Pope Francesco He surprised everyone by interrupting the reading of his homily during the Mass for the Jubilee of the Armed Forces, Police and Security in St. Peter's Square this morning, Sunday, February 9. Due to bronchitis, the Pope gave up continuing and entrusted the text of the homily to Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli.
Pope Francis interrupts the homily
Despite the recent bronchitis, Pope Francis held audiences on February 7 and 8 at Casa Santa Marta and participated in today's meeting in St. Peter's Square. However, his health conditions still appear not to be fully restored.
"I'm sorry and I ask the teacher to continue reading, I have difficulty breathing", he revealed to the faithful.
Pope Francis handed over the text of his homily to Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, master of papal liturgical celebrations, who read it in his place, since the Pontiff appeared clearly tired.
Present in the square, among the faithful, were the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, the Minister of Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti, the Undersecretaries of Defense Matteo Perego di Cremnago and Isabella Rauti, together with the Chief of Police Vittorio Pisani, the Chief of Defense Staff General Luciano Portolano and the Chief of the Fire Brigade Eros Mannino.
Pope Francis' words in his homily
"A great mission has been entrusted to you, which embraces multiple dimensions of social and political life: the defense of our countries, the commitment to security, the protection of legality and justice, the presence in prisons, the fight against crime and the various forms of violence that risk disturbing social peace”, remind the military.
Il Pontiff he reminded the law enforcement officers present of the important service offered by those who intervene in natural disasters, for the protection of creation, for the saving of lives at sea, for the most fragile and for the promotion of peace.
“The Lord also asks you to do as He does: see, climb, sit. View, because you are called to have a careful gaze, which is able to grasp the threats to the common good, the dangers that loom over the lives of citizens, the environmental, social and political risks to which we are exposed. To go up, because your uniforms, the discipline that has forged you, the courage that distinguishes you, the oath you have taken, are all things that remind you how important it is not only to see evil in order to denounce it, but also to get on the boat in a storm and commit yourself so that it does not sink, with a mission at the service of good, freedom, and justice. And finally sit down, because your presence in our cities and in our neighborhoods, your always being on the side of legality and on the side of the weakest, becomes a lesson for all of us".
Finally, the Pope asked the Angelus to pray for peace in the tormented Ukraine, in Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, throughout the Middle East, in Kivu and in Sudan.