Cardinal Mauro Gambetti greets animals and offers his blessing in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA. See CNA article for full slideshow.
Vatican City, Jan 17, 2024 / 14:00 pm (CNA).
St. Peter’s Square was filled with horses, cows, donkeys, dogs, sheep, chickens, and rabbits on Wednesday for the feast of St. Anthony Abbot.
Farmers and pet owners alike brought out their beloved animals to the Vatican for a special blessing on Jan. 17.
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti blesses animals in St. Peter’s Square for the feast of St. Anthony of the Desert, co-patron of animals, on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
While many American Catholics associate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi with a blessing of animals, in Italy farmers traditionally celebrate the feast of St. Anthony Abbot, the patron saint of domestic animals. St. Anthony is also known as St. Anthony of the Desert, St. Anthony of Egypt, and St. Anthony the Great, among other names.
St. Anthony Abbot was a fourth-century hermit known for his asceticism and as a father of monasticism. His holy life in the Egyptian desert was recorded by St. Athanasius in “The Life of St. Antony.”
Donkeys were among the animals blessed in St. Peter’s Square on the feast of St. Anthony of the Desert on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Despite the cold and rainy weather, many people showed up to celebrate again with their furry friends.
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, individually greeted the animals after offering the blessing.
The cardinal kicked off the day’s celebration with a Mass inside St. Peter’s Basilica with members of the Italian Breeder’s Association.
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of the blessing of animals in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
In his homily, Gambetti reflected on how farming is “a job in contact with the earth, with creation.”
Acknowledging that farmers have faced difficulties in recent years, the cardinal encouraged them to face “the challenges that globalization poses” with “the strength of compassionate humanity in the name of Jesus Christ.”
An animal pen at the blessing of animals in St. Peter’s Square, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
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Pope Francis wishes the crowd a “Happy Easter” from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
CNA Newsroom, Apr 20, 2025 / 07:12 am (CNA).
Pope Francis decried the numerous conflicts plaguing the planet and appealed to world leaders “not to yield to the logic of fear” in his Easter message “urbi et orbi” (to the city and to the world) on Sunday.
The pope’s traditional blessing, “urbi et orbi,” was read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, as the 88-year-old pontiff, still convalescing, was present but physically limited.
Francis, who arrived at the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica in a wheelchair, greeted the faithful with a brief “Brothers and Sisters, Happy Easter” before asking Archbishop Ravelli to read the message on his behalf.
“I appeal to all those in positions of political responsibility in our world not to yield to the logic of fear which only leads to isolation from others, but rather to use the resources available to help the needy, to fight hunger and to encourage initiatives that promote development,” the message stated.
On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis from the balcony of the Loggia of Blessings at St. Peter’s Basilica greeted the world with a simple “Happy Easter.” The Master of Ceremonies read the traditional Urbi et Orbi message, before imparting his blessing with a plenary indulgence. pic.twitter.com/CmZsyinK1g
Earlier in the morning, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Pope Francis held a brief private meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Casa Santa Marta, according to the Holy See Press Office.
The meeting, which lasted only a few minutes, provided an opportunity for the two to exchange Easter greetings.
Vice President Vance met Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Saturday regarding international relations, religious freedom, and humanitarian concerns.
Archbishop Diego Ravelli reads the Easter message “urbi et orbi” as Pope Francis listens from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, April 20, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
The pope’s Easter address — delivered amid a confluence of global conflicts — focused particularly on war-torn regions, including Ukraine, the Holy Land, Myanmar, and various parts of Africa.
Regarding Gaza, where “the terrible conflict continues to generate death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation,” Francis called for concrete action: “I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace!”
The Holy Father also lamented the “growing climate of anti-Semitism throughout the world” while expressing closeness to “the sufferings of Christians in Palestine and Israel, and to all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people.”
The pope’s message emphasized that “there can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others.” He added that peace is also impossible without “true disarmament,” warning against the “race to rearmament” that threatens global stability.
Reflecting on the spiritual significance of Easter, Francis reminded the faithful that Christ’s resurrection represents “the basis of our hope” and that “hope does not disappoint!” He characterized this hope not as “an evasion, but a challenge” that “does not delude, but empowers us.”
The message “urbi et orbi” concluded with the pontiff’s customary invocation for a peaceful world: “Let us entrust ourselves to him, for he alone can make all things new.”
This year’s Easter celebration held particular significance as it coincided with this year’s 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and was celebrated on the same day by Catholics and Orthodox Christians following the Julian calendar.
After the blessing, Pope Francis greeted jubilant pilgrims from the popemobile, to shouts of joy from the crowd. It was the first time the pontiff used the popemobile to visit the square since his hospitalization.
Last updated on April 20, 2025, with further details.
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