VATICAN CITY -- Twenty-six weeks after his
last weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis will resume
his audiences with the public present, but in a Vatican courtyard.
The Prefecture of the Pontifical Household said
Aug. 26 that members of the faithful could attend the Wednesday audience talks
starting Sept. 2.
Norms for curbing the spread of the coronavirus
will be followed, the prefecture said in a written communique, and for the
month of September, the audiences will be held in the large San Damaso
courtyard of the Apostolic Palace.
Attendance "will be open to anyone who
wishes" to participate, and no tickets are needed, it said.
Since March 11, Pope Francis had been
livestreaming his general audience talks from the library of the Apostolic
Palace. Aides were present to read the Scriptures and summaries of his talk in
a variety of languages, but no visitors or pilgrims could attend.
The last time the audience was held with the
public present was Feb. 26, Ash Wednesday, in St. Peter's Square. The weekly
appointment had not been scheduled March 4 because it fell within the time
scheduled for the pope's annual Lenten retreat, which Pope Francis did not
attend because he had a cold.
© Arlington Catholic Herald 2020