Pope Francis replaced in the liturgies at the Vatican for a painful sciatica

Due to sciatic pain, Pope Francis will not preside over Vatican liturgies on New Year's and New Year's Eve, according to the Holy See press office.

Pope Francis was supposed to lead vespers on December 31 and celebrate mass on January 1, for the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, in St. Peter's Basilica.

The director of the Vatican press office, Matteo Bruni, declared on December 31 that the pope will no longer do so "because of a painful sciatica".

Pope Francis has been suffering from sciatica for several years. He spoke about it during a press conference on a return flight from a trip to Brazil in July 2013.

He revealed that “the worst thing” that had happened in the first four months of his pontificate “was a bout of sciatica - really! - that I had the first month, because I was sitting in an armchair doing interviews and it hurt. "

“Sciatica is very painful, very painful! I don't wish it to anyone! " Francis said.

The pope will recite the Angelus again on January 1, the Vatican communiqué reads. During the Christmas period, Francis broadcast his Angelus message via live streaming from the library of the Apostolic Palace, due to the restrictions of the holiday coronavirus in Italy.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, will celebrate Mass on 1 January at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica.

The first Vespers, the singing of the “Te Deum” and the Eucharistic adoration on December 31st were led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, deacon of the College of Cardinals.