… Pope Francis is backed by supporters as he leaves a prayer watch in St. Louis. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 1, 2019. Regular bouts of sciatica, a debilitating back pain, often mean the pope needs help walking up and down steps. (CNS Photo / Paul Haring)
Pope Francis will not preside over the traditional year – end prayer service or New Year ‘s Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica because of “painful sciatica,” the Vatican said.
In a statement published December. 31, Vatican Matteo Bruni said instead that Cardinal Giovanni Batista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, will lead the evening prayer and sing the “Te Deum” to thank God for the year ahead. coming to an end.
The Vatican will be headed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of state for the Vatican. 1 Mass for the reception of Mary, Mother of God, and World Peace Day at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica, he said.
However, Bruni confirmed that “Pope Francis will continue to direct the Angelus’ statement from the library of the Abstol’s Palace, as recorded” Jan. 1.
The pope has suffered for several years from sciatica which, according to the Mayo Clinic, can cause acute pain that radiates to the sciatic nerve, which sharpens from the lower back through the bumps and down each leg.
Pope Francis has spoken in the past about the physical pain he suffers because of the condition.
Speaking to reporters on his return from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in July 2013, the pope described an attack of sciatica he suffered in the first month of papacy as “the worst thing that has ever happened. . “
“Sciatica is very painful, very painful! I don’t want it on anyone!” he told the reporters.
Then in the summer of 2017, the Catholic magazine Famiglia Cristiana reported that the pope’s personal physician recommended that he receive regular massages and injections twice a week to relieve the pain caused reduce the situation.
Pope Francis celebrated his 84th birthday in December. 17 and has rarely postponed or missed events due to health reasons.
Before Italy nationwide locked COVID-19 in March, Pope Francis was suffering from what the Vatican said was a common cold. He adjourned the Feb. mass. 27 with the priests of the Diocese of Rome and postponed other major public events and large group meetings. However, he kept other promises, meeting and shaking hands with people at smaller meetings during the day and weekends.
On March 1 the pope told pilgrims a gathering for his Sunday Angelus with the cold insisting he would not be able to attend Lenten’s annual 1-6 recall with Curia officials.
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