The pope pays homage to the nuns who take care of the sick

The pope pays homage to the nuns who take care of the sick
Pope Francis celebrates mass on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 2020, in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae in the Vatican. (Credit: CNS Photo / Vatican Media.)

ROME - Early in the morning, in the chapel of his residence, Pope Francis celebrated mass for the feast of the Annunciation and paid tribute to the religious, in particular those who deal with the care of the sick during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some members of the Daughters of Charity of San Vincenzo de Paoli, who he holds in the papal residence and, more importantly for the pope, manage the free pediatric clinic of Santa Marta in the Vatican to join the pope for mass on 25 March.

The Daughters of Charity around the world renew their vows every year on the feast of the Annunciation, so the pope had the sisters renewed during his Mass.

"I want to offer Mass today for them, for their congregation, which has always worked with the sick, the poorest - as they have done here (at the Vatican clinic) for 98 years - and for all the sisters who work now to take care of the sick, and even risk and give their lives, ”the pope said at the beginning of the liturgy.

Instead of giving a homily, the pope reread Luke's Gospel account of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary and announcing that she would become the mother of Jesus.

“Luke the Evangelist could have known these things only if Mary had told him,” the pope said. “Listening to Luke, we listened to the Madonna who tells this mystery. We are facing a mystery. "

“Perhaps the best thing we can do now is to reread the passage, thinking that Mary is talking to us about it,” the pope said before rereading it.