Pope Francis entrusted the reading of the prepared text to one of his collaborators, Monsignor Filippo Ciampanelli. Francis wanted to read in person, with a voice that was still effectively feeble, the final appeals for peace and to remember the ban on anti-personnel mines.
The Pope arrived in the Paul VI Hall not on foot with the aid of a cane, as had been seen in recent times, but in a wheelchair accompanied by an assistant. "I still have a bit of a cold, which is why I asked Monsigner Ciamp anelli to read today's catechesis," began the Pope.