Pope: Saint Catherine of Siena protect Italy and Europe in the pandemic

To greetings after the general audience, Francis evokes the co-patroness of Italy and the Old Continent with a thought for those who have been unemployed. The invitation to pray the Rosary in May for Mary to help overcome the coronavirus crisis has been renewed
Debora Donnini - Vatican City

At the end of the catechesis, the Pope returned to remember that today the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Catherine of Siena, doctor of the Church and co-patron of Italy and Europe, invoking her protection. Already at Mass at Casa Santa Marta, he lingered there praying for the unity of Europe.

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In his greetings in Italian, at the general audience, he also wanted to underline, in particular, the example of this courageous young woman who, although illiterate, made many appeals to civil and religious authorities, sometimes reproaches or invitations to the action. Among these also for the pacification of Italy and the return of the Pope from Avignon to Rome. A woman who influenced the civil sphere, even at the highest levels, and of the Church:

This great figure of woman drew from the communion with Jesus the courage of action and that inexhaustible hope that supported her in the most difficult hours, even when everything seemed lost, and allowed her to influence others, even at the highest civil and ecclesiastical levels, with the strength of his faith. May his example help each one to know how to unite, with Christian coherence, an intense love of the Church with an effective concern for the civil community, especially in this time of trial. I ask Saint Catherine to protect Italy during this pandemic and protect Europe, because she is Patroness of Europe; that protects all of Europe to remain united.

The Lord Providence of all the needy in the pandemic
Therefore, the Pope wanted to remember the feast of Saint Joseph the worker, in greeting the French-speaking faithful. "By his intercession - he said - I entrust to the mercy of God those affected by unemployment because of the current pandemic. May the Lord be the Providence of all the needy and encourage us to help them! ”.

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The Rosary and the prayer to Mary help in the trial
The Pope's gaze always keeps in mind the horizon of pain caused by Covid-19, and for the month of May, therefore, he turns to the prayer of the Rosary. Francis returns to exhort everyone to this Marian prayer, as he had already done, with a Letter, a few days ago. He remarks this morning, especially in greeting the Polish-speaking faithful:

Staying in the houses because of the pandemic, we use this time to rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary and the tradition of Marian functions. In the family, or individually, at any time fix your gaze on the face of Christ and the heart of Mary. Her maternal intercession will help you face this time of particular trial.

Source: vaticannews.va Official Vatican source