"Pope Francis," reads the midday, Wednesday, update from the Press Office of the Holy See, "is touched by the many messages and the affection received in these days, and expresses his gratitude for the closeness and prayer."
Pope Francis “has reacted well” to a scheduled surgery for an intestinal condition, according to the director of the Holy See Press Office. Matteo Bruni said the surgery was conducted under general anaesthesia and concluded on Sunday evening. “The Holy Father, hospitalised in the afternoon at the Gemelli University Hospital, underwent the planned surgical operation
"Recent developments that penalise the celebration of Holy Mass have been disturbing not only to the Irish Bishops’ Conference but also to the Bishops of Scotland," says Bishop Hugh Gilbert, President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland. "We all recognise the need for restrictions to protect the common good of all people in a pandemic but to enact legislation that criminalises those who gather to celebrate Holy Mass is indeed extreme and unjust."
Bishops John Sherrington and Mark O’Toole have written a letter expressing their concern to British Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock about the removal of life support from a Catholic man in Plymouth, after a court ruling in January.
Bruni's statement explained that the Dean of the College of Cardinals, His Eminence Giovanni Battista Re, will preside at First Vespers and Te Deum, while the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, will say Mass of New Year's Day, while Pope Francis still plans to lead the Jan 1 recitation of the Angelus from the Library of the Apostolic Palace.
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