#PopeFrancis in his element, happy to be again with the people at 1st General Audience of #PopeFrancis with faithful since #coronavirus outbreak… He received the warmest of welcomes (📸 by Zenit Sr Vatican Correspondent @DeborahLubov) pic.twitter.com/nZNdttAMrS
— ZenitEnglish (@zenitenglish) September 2, 2020
Participation remains open to all who wish, without the need for tickets. Last week Zenit was with the Pope at the Audience for his first such Audience since February.
*Here* Inside **1st** General Audience of #PopeFrancis with faithful since before the #COVID19 #Pandemic erupted and brought the world to a halt … All masked and socially distant. Held in Courtyard of San Damaso of Apostolic Palace (📸 Zenit's @DeborahLubov) pic.twitter.com/z9lLLl5v2i
— ZenitEnglish (@zenitenglish) September 2, 2020
While continuing his series of catecheses on COVID 19, Francis reflected on the current pandemic in the light of the Church’s Social Doctrine, stressing the common good must be the goal of our individual and collective efforts to heal our wounded world.
God’s unconditional love, he stressed, inspires our Christian commitment «which calls us to set no limits on our love for others and our concern for their welfare.»
Being members of one human family, the Argentine Pontiff stressed that our well-being is a public, and not simply a private, good.
«By placing every human person and the common good at the center of our cultural, economic and political activity,» Francis encouraged, «we will create a genuinely healthy, just and peaceful world, and so contribute to the building of a true ‘civilization of love.’”
«The coronavirus,» the Pontiff underscored, «heeds no cultural or political barrier or distinction – nor must we impose any barrier or distinction on our love as we work for the common good in responding to the grave problems brought to the fore by the pandemic, in fidelity to our Christian vocation.»
Pope Francis cordially greeted English-speaking faithful present as well as those following the audience via streaming.
«May the Lord’s grace,» he prayed, » sustain all of you in bringing the Father’s love to our brothers and sisters, especially those most in need,»
Invoking the joy and peace of the Lord, upon all of them and their families, he said: «God bless you!»
Following the health indications of the Authorities, the General Audiences in September are taking place in the San Damaso Courtyard of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, starting at 9:30 a.m.
Individuals enter from the Bronze Doors of the right colonnade of St. Peter’s Square, as early as 7:30 a.m. Pilgrims are to maintain proper social distancing, sanitize hands, have temperatures taken and pass through security clearance. To reach the Courtyard of San Damaso, faithful go past the masked Swiss Guards, climb about 75 steps, before arriving at the site of the audience. It is rare for faithful and pilgrims to have access to this space.
For Pilgrims, Be prepared to:
-walk more than 75 steps,
-have temperature taken,
-sanitize
-be distant &
-do security checks to enter Courtyard of San Damaso for 1st GeneralAudience of #PopeFrancis since #COVID19 shut down Italy #covid #Coronavirus (📸 Zenit's @DeborahLubov ) pic.twitter.com/pMVfOx5EZe— ZenitEnglish (@zenitenglish) September 2, 2020
In the past, General Audiences were held in St. Peter’s Square, or in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.
Full Text of Pope’s September 9 General Audience Address
