Pope Francis will not celebrate the traditional Corpus Christi mass and procession next Thursday, June 16th. The information was released by the Vatican, this Monday (13), justified by the pain in the knee that the pontiff faces.
“The pain in the knee that has been conditioning the Pope’s commitments for days, most recently the postponement of the apostolic trip to Africa scheduled for the first week of July, once again changes the agenda of papal celebrations”, reported the Vatican News news agency. , linked to the Holy See.
“The Solemnity of Corpus Christi, with the procession with the consecrated Host, one of the most important feasts and among the most intense moments of prayer that has its origin in the 13th century, will not be celebrated”, he added.
Corpus Christi Mass has been celebrated for the last two years with restrictions due to Covid-19, in the Chair of Saint Peter’s Basilica. Traditionally, the celebration takes place in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, and the procession to Saint Mary Major.
Francis’ cancellation of the schedule comes just days after the announcement that he would postpone a trip to Africa.
Last Friday (10), the Vatican said that the July 2-7 trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan would be postponed “with regret” at the request of the pontiff’s doctors. Francisco receives treatment for a torn ligament in his knee.
For the past month, Francisco has been using a wheelchair to get around. Vatican sources told Reuters the Pope has been receiving several knee injections a week, in addition to physical therapy.
* With information from Reuters
Source: CNN Brasil
