On March 27th 2020, when Covid had brought the world to a standstill, Pope Francis led a ‘prayer for the world’ in St Peter’s Square. It was an extraordinary moment, on a wet Friday evening the entire square was deserted, in darkness Pope Francis walked alone, into the centre of the square, where an altar had been prepared under a white canopy, with the Blessed Sacrament exposed and a single chair. He prayed from the depths of his heart, into the void, beseeching Almighty God to look kindly on the world and lead us from fear to new hope. He used the expression that we were ‘all in the one boat’ and urged the world to see this moment of pandemic as a test of solidarity and a reminder of basic values. “We find ourselves afraid and lost” he prayed, “all of us are called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other.”
In this moment, he revealed to the world the importance of prayer, the place of solidarity between peoples and how to stand together in the face of adversity. No doubt he felt that as vaccines were developed and distributed that it would take an enormous effort for the world to ensure a fair distribution of the new medicines to ensure that the poor were also included in the dividing of scarce resource. His strength as a global leader, sharing the highest values and ideals and calling the whole world to compassion was amazing.
In the same square during the week, at a similar makeshift altar at its centre, cardinals led a huge congregation in prayer for the Holy Father. Now that we know he is gravely ill, this outpouring of support for the Pope was so moving. In his hour of need, perhaps he feels ‘alone and afraid’ he received the consolation of countless prayers from his enormous faith family all over the world. I’m sure all of us have taken a moment to pray for him too, in our parish, homes and schools. May God hold him close and protect him from fear. Bless him.
Lent begins on Wednesday and we will enter into our prayerful preparation for Holy Week and Easter. Please make time for prayer, fasting and almsgiving.