By Nicole Windfield -
The Associated Press
Pope Francis prayed this Saturday for the end of the coronavirus pandemic and took advantage of his Christmas speech to ask for medical care for all,
vaccines for the poor
and that dialogue prevail to resolve the world's conflicts.
Amid a record spike in COVID-19 cases in Italy this week, only a few thousand people flocked to the rain-soaked St. Peter's Square for Pope Francis
Urbi et Orbi's
annual Christmas
address
(
A the city and the world
).
In other circumstances, the square would be packed with tens of thousands of parishioners.
This year, at least, they
were able to reunite.
Pope Francis in front of the crowd after pronouncing the Christmas Day blessing.Gregorio Borgia / AP
The confinement of Italy during the 2020 holidays forced Pope Francis to deliver a televised address from inside the Apostolic Palace, to prevent crowds from forming in the square.
The pope's Christmas address gives him the opportunity to draw the attention of the world audience to the world's conflicts large and small.
This year was not the exeption.
Pope Francis lamented the current conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, the new tensions in Ukraine and Ethiopia, and an "unprecedented crisis" in Lebanon.
"We have become so used to them [to conflicts] that now many tragedies go unnoticed; we run the risk of not hearing the cry of pain and anguish of so many of our brothers," he said from the outer gallery of St. Peter's Basilica, while the Swiss Guard stood attentive in the square below.
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The pope warned of the tendency during the pandemic to retreat and isolate itself and urged dialogue to try to resolve global conflicts.
He prayed, in particular, for those most affected by the virus;
including
women and children who have suffered abuse during confinement.
"Son of God, console the victims of violence against women, which has increased in this time of pandemic. Offer hope to children and adolescents who suffer harassment and abuse," he said.
[On video: An Orthodox priest calls Pope Francis a "heretic" during his trip to Greece]
He called for "comfort and warmth" for older adults who are alone, as well as for medical workers who "generously dedicate themselves" to caring for the sick.
"Grant health to the sick and inspire all men and women of good will to seek the best possible ways to overcome the current health crisis and its effects," he added.
"It
opens hearts
to ensure that necessary medical care, and vaccines in particular, are provided to the people who need them most," he said.
["The worst thing is that we are getting used to it": Pope Francis raises his voice for migrants]
The pope delivered his speech hours after celebrating a "midnight mass" for some
2,000 people
;
a fraction of the capacity of the basilica.
The service began at 7:30 p.m., a nod to the resistance of the 85-year-old pope and reminiscent of last year, when
the service had to end before the national
COVID-19 curfew.
For the second day in a row, Italy broke a daily record of infected with 50,599 new cases this Friday.
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With the arrival of the omicron variant in Italy, the Vatican Secretary of State this week imposed a new vaccination mandate on staff and extended it to all employees,
except those who have recovered from COVID-19.
Previously, only employees who dealt directly with the public, such as personnel from the Vatican Museums and the Swiss Guard, had to be vaccinated.
Other Vatican employees could access their offices with periodic tests.
Now there is no exemption from evidence.
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