The Holy See Press Room announces that Pope Francis will not be able to preside over a series of appointments on Sunday and Monday, due to a recurrence of sciatica.
By Vatican News staff reporter
Pope Francis will not preside over several celebrations on Sunday and Monday, according to a statement released by Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Room.
Among them is the Sunday Mass of the Word of God in St. Peter’s Basilica, which will be presided over by Archbishop Rino Fisichella.
However, he will conduct the Angelus prayer in the Library of the Apostolic Palace on Sunday at noon, as scheduled.
On Monday, the Pope was due to meet with the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, but the meeting was postponed.
Nor will he preside over Vespers for the closing of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in St. Paul’s Basilica. The event will proceed as planned and will be chaired by Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.
In his statement released Saturday night, Bruni said the changes were due to the fact that the pope was suffering from sciatica.