This archive report was first published on 22 May 2020.
Pope Francis Warns Against Isolation in Online Masses ¶
On 17 April, Pope Francis delivered a homily at his morning Mass in the chapel of his residence, where he cautioned against the dangers of forced isolation during the pandemic.
He emphasized that living faith only for oneself, detached from the sacraments and the Church, is a perilous path. The Pope noted that while online Masses and spiritual communion are a means of staying connected during the pandemic, they do not represent the Church in its fullness.
“This is the Church in a difficult situation that the Lord is allowing, but the ideal of the Church is always with the people and with the sacraments — always,” Pope Francis said.
He reflected on the concerns of expectant mothers who may be anxious or worried about giving birth during the pandemic, saying, “Let us pray for them, that the Lord give them the courage to carry these children forth with the trust that it will certainly be a different world, but it will always be a world the Lord loves very much.”
The Pope credited an unnamed bishop for making him think more deeply about the danger of celebrating Mass without the presence and participation of the general public. The bishop had questioned the decision to celebrate Mass in an empty St Peter’s Basilica, suggesting that even a small number of people could be present to represent the community.
“The Church, the sacraments and the people of God are concrete,” the Pope said. He urged the faithful to maintain a concrete relationship with God, as the apostles lived it, as a community and with the people of God, not in a selfish way as individuals or lived in a “viral” way that is spread only online.
