The Holy See news agency announces that Pope Francis will not be able to chair a series of appointments on Sunday and Monday due to a recurrence of sciatica.
By the Vatican News staff reporter
According to a statement by Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See news agency, Pope Francis will not preside at several celebrations on Sundays and Mondays.
These include the Sunday Mass of the Word of God in St. Peter’s Basilica, which will instead be presided over by Archbishop Rino Fisichella.
However, as scheduled, he will conduct the Angelus Prayer in the Library of the Apostolic Palace at noon on Sunday.
On Monday, the Pope was due to meet with the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, but the meeting has been postponed.
He also will not chair Vespers for the closing of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at St. Paul’s Basilica. The event will go ahead as planned and will be chaired by Cardinal Kurt Koch, the President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.
In his statement released Saturday night, Mr. Bruni that the changes are due to the fact that the Pope is suffering from an attack of sciatica.