Dear Friends, This Friday, March 27th, in Saint Peter’s Square, Our Holy Father will offer a special, Urbi et OrbiBlessing. Translated as “to the City [of Rome] and to the World, this blessing is typically reserved for Easter and Christmas.” During this time of strife for our world as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Archbishop Pérez is echoing Pope Francis’ call that faithful from throughout the Universal Church join in prayerful solidairty at 6:00 p.m. Rome time (1:00 p.m. EDT) this Friday. During this Statio orbis, which will be broadcast by Mondovision and streamed live on the Vatican News Service website (www.vaticannews.va), the Holy Father will grant to all participants a Plenary Indulgence before imparting the Urbi et Orbi Blessing. Please share this information broadly and join together for this powerful and historic time of prayer with the Holy Father and faithful from around the world. As Archbishop Pérez recently reminded us, “Christ is hope and through Him we are a people of hope!” Kenneth A. Gavin Chief Communications Officer Archdiocese of Philadelphia |