VATICAN (SE) On Monday, 18 May, Pope Francis will celebrate his morning Mass at the tomb of Pope St. John Paul II for the 100th anniversary of his birth, Vatican News reported. It will be the last time that the pope’s morning Masses will be livestreamed as public Masses are set to resume in Italy on the same day.
The last Mass is special as May 18 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Karol Wojtyla—who would become Pope John Paul II.
Karol Wojtyla was born in 1920, elected pope and Bishop of Rome in 1978, died in 2005, and was canonised in 2014.
The live video, radio and streaming transmission of the morning Mass in the Casa Santa Marta during the period of Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) quarantine was an unexpected and beautiful gift. Many people—even those far away from the Church—felt accompanied and supported by the Pope Francis, who quietly knocked on the doors of their homes at the beginning of each day.
Many discovered the importance and comfort of the daily encounter with the gospel and many had never before followed the weekday liturgy on television.It had no commentary and afforded a few minutes of silent adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.
Many people were already accustomed to following the homilies of Pope Francis through summaries offered online by Vatican Media and the books of the Vatican Publishing House, which collects them in an annual edition.
Over the last two months, however, the experience has been different, because the live broadcast has offered the opportunity of participating—albeit at a distance—in these daily celebrations, watching the pope as he preached and reflected on the Scriptures.
Several million people have joined in celebrating the pope’s Masses every day and many have written to express their gratitude.
People around the world will miss this daily appointment, however, as Pope Francis himself once said, we need to return to communal familiarity with the Lord that can be found in the sacraments, as we participate personally in the liturgy.
