Pope Broadcasts Sunday Angelus Prayer Online Amid COVID-19 Spread Concerns

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy International Desk Reporter] The Sunday Angelus prayer, which has been continuously held in the Vatican since 1954, will be conducted via live internet streaming for the first time due to the spread of COVID-19.

On the 7th (local time), the Holy See announced that the Sunday Angelus prayer, scheduled to be held on the 8th at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, will be conducted through live internet streaming.

This decision was made because it is deemed inappropriate for many people to gather in one place amid the global spread of COVID-19. In particular, the Vatican is located within Italy, which has been severely affected by COVID-19. This is the first time since the Sunday Angelus prayer began during the papacy of Pope Pius XII in 1954 that it will be conducted via live internet streaming.

The Pope plans to record the video in the Apostolic Palace library without direct contact with the general faithful, and this content will be delivered to believers through the Vatican News website and large screens installed at St. Peter's Square. The Pope also plans to conduct the general audience on Wednesday the 11th via internet streaming without the attendance of the general public.

The Vatican reported its first confirmed COVID-19 case on the 5th.

On the 6th, the Holy See announced that an outpatient at the Vatican hospital tested positive for COVID-19 the previous day. This patient, known to be a general employee of the Holy See, reportedly attended an international conference on artificial intelligence held at the Vatican from the 26th to 28th of last month, raising concerns about further infections.