The Holy See Press Office 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 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 Office.
These include the Mass for the Sunday of the Word of God in St. Peter’s Basilica, which will be led by Archbishop Rino Fisichella instead.
On Sunday afternoon, however, he leads, as scheduled, the Angelus prayer in the Library of the Apostolic Palace.
On Monday, the pope was to meet with the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, but the meeting was adjourned.
Nor will he preside over Vespers for the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at the Basilica of St. Paul does not. The meeting will continue as planned and will be chaired by Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Papal Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.
In his statement released Saturday night, Mr. Bruni said the changes were due to the pope suffering from an attack on sciatica.