Pope all smiles at first public audience in six months, prays for Lebanon

[sandensea]

Pope Francis held his first weekly general audience in public in six months on Wednesday, smiling and chatting with some of the crowd as they pressed forward to greet him.

The audience, at which the pope announced a day of prayer and fasting for Lebanon, was held in the San Damaso courtyard of the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.

Nearly everyone among the audience of 500 or so wore masks and sat in seats arranged to ensure social distancing.

"After so many months, we resume our encounters face to face and not screen to screen, face to face, and this is beautiful," he said to applause at the start of the audience.

The pope last held an audience with a public crowd in early March.

At: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pope-all-smiles-at-first-public-audience-in-six-months-prays-for-lebanon/ar-BB18CI2y

Pope Francis prays for Lebanon during today's public audience at the Vatican's San Damaso courtyard - the first in six months.

[shrike3]

1. I was in Rome and participated in the Angelus, held on Sundays in St. Peter's Square

I think even non-religious people would enjoy it, because the square is jammed with people from all over the world, and the atmosphere is almost like a sporting event, people holding up flags from their home countries and yelling to the pope to recognize them and their country. Very festive. When I was there a group from Germany sang in the square: they sounded like professionals. Really a lot of fun. Of course, Rome is a lot of fun, and you definitely don't have to be religious to enjoy it. So long as you like art and food.