VATIKAANSTAD – Pope Francis is skipping New Year’s ceremonies because of what the Vatican says is a painful back condition, a spokesman said Thursday.
Matteo Bruni said Francis suffers from ‘painful sciatica’ and will not preside over a prayer service at the end of the year in St. Peter’s Basilica. For the same reason, the pope will not celebrate Mass in the basilica on New Year’s Day.
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Francis has suffered from the problem in the past. Sciatica can cause back and leg pain and is due to compression on nerve roots or on the nerve that runs from the lower spine to the thigh.
Despite the back pain, Bruni said Francis would deliver his scheduled New Year’s blessing during an appearance Friday afternoon in the Apostolic Palace library.
To discourage crowds in St. Peter’s Square during a COVID-19 boom in Italy, Francis recently shifted his weekly and holiday blessings to the Vatican instead of faithfully greeting them from a palace window.
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On Thursday night, the Vespers service and the Friday Mass will continue, but the cardinals of the Vatican will lead it.