WORLD NEWS
Pope Francis compared priests who defied lockdown measures to ‘adolescents’
Pope Francis praised healthcare workers and “obedient and creative” priests who served during the novel coronavirus pandemic. As for priests who acted in defiance of safety measures and guidelines, Francis compared their behavior to that of children.
The Pope made his remarks Sunday at the Vatican, where he addressed an audience of doctors, nurses, and health workers from the northern Italian region of Lombardy, Religion News Service reported.
Lombardy was among the country’s hardest-hit regions by the pandemic.
“The pastoral zeal and creative concern of priests has helped people in their faith journeys and given them companionship in the presence of pain or fear,” Pope Francis said.
Many priests worked hard to remain close to their congregations when they couldn’t be physically near them, Francis said, according to Religion News Service.
“They were fathers, not adolescents,” Francis said.
At the height of the pandemic, countries around the world implemented social distancing and stay-at-home laws that forbade in-person church services.
Some priests defied these orders, in which Francis has referred to as “adolescent resistance.”
Avvenire, the media outlet of the Italian Bishop’s Conference, reported that more than 120 Italian priests have died during the pandemic. More than 9,800 Italians have succumbed to the virus.
In his Sunday remarks, Francis noted examples of “tenderness” by medical personnel, from holding up the phone to the dying so they could say goodbye to their loved ones to prayers and caresses, Religion News Service reported.
“Dear doctors and nurses, the world was able to see the good you have done in a time of great challenge,” he said. “Though tired, you continued to commit yourselves with professionalism and self-sacrifice.”
As more countries ease safety measures imposed during the pandemic, Francis urged people to remember what they learned during months of lockdown.
“Now it’s time to treasure all this positive energy we invested. Don’t forget!” he said, according to Religion News Service. “The pandemic left a deep mark in the life of people and the history of communities.”
Source: businessinsider.co.za
-
Lifestyle1 month ago
Road Safety Authority narrates how buttocks causes road accident
-
GENERAL NEWS2 months ago
Why 15 police officers stormed Owusu Bempah’s church – Kumchacha narrates
-
GENERAL NEWS1 month ago
Watch how Ibrahim Mahama rode Honda superbike to pay last respects to late friend
-
GENERAL NEWS2 months ago
How Offinso residents storm destooled queen mother’s house, demand for new chief
-
South Africa News2 months ago
Woman thrown out of a speeding taxi while on her way to work
-
GENERAL NEWS3 weeks ago
Deadly clash between youth and navy personnel results in two deaths at Tema Manhean
-
SHOWBIZ KONKONSAH3 weeks ago
Junior Pope’s Death: Video of John Dumelo refusing to join canoe for movie shoot over safety concerns resurfaces
-
News Africa2 months ago
‘Satanically dubious’ – SCOAN releases statement on BBC’s report about TB Joshua, church