Pope Francis during the New Year: “The vaccine for the heart is needed”

Vatican CITY – Pope Francis confirmed this Friday that 2021 will be “a good year” when people care for others and stressed that in addition to a vaccine against the coronavirus, the world needs a “vaccine for the heart.”

“Knowing a lot of people and many things is useless if we don’t take care of them. This year, as we wait for recovery and new treatments, let’s not neglect care. Because in addition to the vaccine for the body, you also need the vaccine for the heart, and that’s concern. It will be a good year if we take care of others, as the Virgo does for us, ”he explained.

These words of Francis were read in homily by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, during the New Year’s Mass., dedicated to the “Solemnity of Mary, Most Holy Mother of God”, celebrated in the Vatican on January 1.

Pope Francis planned to preside over this mass and also that of the first vespers on December 31, 2020, but was unable to attend either due to sciatica, Holy See spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

Just like yesterday, December 31, Jorge Bergoglio wrote the sermon so that on January 1, Cardinal Parolin would read his words to the few in attendance and the media that might be in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica. to preventive measures to prevent infections with the corona virus.

And it is that this Mass was celebrated like the rest of Christmas acts in the Vatican, without believers and in an empty basilica.

The Pope emphasized three verbs, bless, be born and find, and emphasized the role of the Virgin Mary, on this day when the Catholic Church also celebrates the 54th World Day of Peace, this year under the motto “The culture of care as a way to peace”.

“We are not in the world to die, but to generate life,” continued the Pope, pointing out that “the first step in giving life to what surrounds us is to love it within ourselves.”

He stressed the importance of “teaching the heart to give, to appreciate people and things,” so that societies take charge of others and the world.

He criticized moments before “the world is seriously polluted by saying bad things and thinking badly about others, about society, about oneselfAnd assured that “the curse corrupts, everything degenerates” and that “the blessing regenerates, gives strength to start over.” “

At the end of the sermon, Francis wondered what people should think in early 2021 and replied, “It would be nice to find time for someone. Time is a wealth that we all have, but that we envy because we only want to use it for ourselves ”.

For this reason, he encouraged people to devote moments to others, especially those “who are alone, those who are suffering, who need to be listened to and cared for”.

The calendar of the Vatican Christmas celebrations continues on January 6 with the Mass for the Epiphany of the Lord.