Pope Francis gives an extraordinary urbi et orbi blessing in St. Peter’s Square, March 27, 2020. / Credit: Vatican Media
Vatican City, Mar 27, 2025 / 19:00 pm (CNA).
Pope Francis’ historic “Statio Orbis” blessing during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic remains relevant for the Church as it did five years ago. Before an empty and rain-covered St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis held Eucharistic adoration and gave an extraordinary urbi et orbi blessing, praying for the world during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Holy Hour on March 27, 2020, included a reading from the Gospel and a meditation by Pope Francis, who spoke about faith and trust in God during a time when people fear for their lives, as did the disciples when their boat was caught in a violent storm.
Pope Francis gives an extraordinary urbi et orbi blessing from the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica on March 27, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media
These powerful words were a papal refrain throughout his 2020 address before an empty St. Peter’s Square.
“‘Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?’ Lord, your word this evening strikes us and regards us, all of us. In this world, that you love more than we do, we have gone ahead at breakneck speed, feeling powerful and able to do anything. Greedy for profit, we let ourselves get caught up in things and lured away by haste,” he prayed.
Pope Francis implored people to believe in God’s presence during the time of COVID-19 when he spoke of Jesus’ reaction to the cry of the disciples: “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” recorded in chapter 4 of St. Mark’s Gospel.
Pope Francis speaks in an empty St. Peter’s Square during a Holy Hour and extraordinary urbi et orbi blessing, March 27, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media
The pandemic’s impact on the life of the Church is yet to be fully researched and understood.
Recent studies from around the world suggest a decline in Church attendance in some regions. A new Pew study shows thousands of people have chosen to leave behind the religion of their childhood in some of the traditionally Catholic countries such as Italy and Spain.
At the same time, the study acknowledges the report’s figures “are not necessarily representative of the entire world’s population.”
A growing Church
While religious belief and practice may seem to be weakening in some parts of the world, the Holy Father’s “Statio Orbis” prayer five years ago can still resonate with millions of people of faith who trust and hope in God’s presence in times of world suffering and hardship.
According to the Vatican’s 2025 Annuario Pontificio, the Catholic Church has grown worldwide after the COVID-19 pandemic, with the highest growth recorded in Africa.
Pope Francis venerates the miraculous crucifix of San Marcello al Corso in St. Peter’s Square during his urbi et orbi blessing on March 27, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media
Between 2022 and 2023, the global Catholic population has grown from approximately 1.39 billion Catholics to 1.406 billion in the last two years. In Africa alone, the Catholic population increased by 3.31%, from 272 million in 2022 to 281 million in 2023.
As Pope Francis said on this day five years ago: “You ask us not to be afraid. Yet our faith is weak and we are fearful. But you, Lord, will not leave us at the mercy of the storm. Tell us again: ‘Do not be afraid’ (Mt 28:5). And we, together with Peter, ‘cast all our anxieties onto you, for you care about us’ (cf. 1 Pt 5:7).”
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Vatican City, Dec 25, 2018 / 05:34 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Christmas, Pope Francis prayed for peace and renewed brotherhood in Syria, Yemen, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and other parts of the world experiencing conflict.
Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter’s Square, Oct. 5, 2016. / Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Mar 13, 2023 / 13:15 pm (CNA).
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the election of Pope Francis as the 265th successor of St. Peter. Here is a timeline of key events during his papacy:
2013
March 13 — About two weeks after Pope Benedict XVI steps down from the papacy, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio is elected pope. He takes the papal name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi and proclaims from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica: “Let us begin this journey, the bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome, which presides in charity over all the Churches, a journey of brotherhood in love, of mutual trust. Let us always pray for one another.”
March 14 — The day after he begins his pontificate, Pope Francis returns to his hotel to personally pay his hotel bill and collect his luggage.
July 8 — Pope Francis visits Italy’s island of Lampedusa and meets with a group of 50 migrants, most of whom are young men from Somalia and Eritrea. The island, which is about 200 miles off the coast of Tunisia, is a common entry point for migrants who flee parts of Africa and the Middle East to enter Europe. This is the pope’s first pastoral visit outside of Rome and sets the stage for making reaching out to the peripheries a significant focus.
Pope Francis gives the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 2, 2013. . Elise Harris/CNA.
July 23–28 — Pope Francis visits Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to participate in World Youth Day 2013. More than 3 million people from around the world attend the event.
July 29 — On the return flight from Brazil, Pope Francis gives his first papal news conference and sparks controversy by saying “if a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge?” The phrase is prompted by a reporter asking the pope a question about priests who have homosexual attraction.
Nov. 24 — Pope Francis publishes his first apostolic exhortation Evangelii gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). The document illustrates the pope’s vision for how to approach evangelization in the modern world.
2014
Feb. 22 — Pope Francis holds his first papal consistory to appoint 19 new cardinals, including ones from countries in the developing world that have never previously been represented in the College of Cardinals, such as Haiti.
March 22 — Pope Francis creates the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The commission works to protect the dignity of minors and vulnerable adults, such as the victims of sexual abuse.
Pope Francis greets pilgrims during his general audience on Nov. 29, 2014. Bohumil Petrik/CNA.
Oct. 5 — The Synod on the Family begins. The bishops discuss a variety of concerns, including single-parent homes, cohabitation, homosexual adoption of children, and interreligious marriages.
Dec. 6 — After facing some pushback for his efforts to reform the Roman Curia, Pope Francis discusses his opinion in an interview with La Nacion, an Argentine news outlet: “Resistance is now evident. And that is a good sign for me, getting the resistance out into the open, no stealthy mumbling when there is disagreement. It’s healthy to get things out into the open, it’s very healthy.”
2015
Jan. 18 — To conclude a trip to Asia, Pope Francis celebrates Mass in Manila, Philippines. Approximately 6 million to 7 million people attend the record-setting Mass, despite heavy rain.
March 23 — Pope Francis visits Naples, Italy, to show the Church’s commitment to helping the fight against corruption and organized crime in the city.
May 24 — To emphasize the Church’s mission to combat global warming and care for the environment, Pope Francis publishes the encyclical Laudato si’, which urges people to take care of the environment and encourages political action to address climate problems.
Pope Francis at a Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square on June 17, 2015. Bohumil Petrik.
Sept. 19–22 — Pope Francis visits Cuba and meets with Fidel Castro in the first papal visit to the country since Pope John Paul II in 1998. During his homily, Francis discusses the dignity of the human person: “Being a Christian entails promoting the dignity of our brothers and sisters, fighting for it, living for it.”
Sept. 22–27 — After departing from Cuba, Pope Francis makes his first papal visit to the United States. In Washington, D.C., he speaks to a joint session of Congress, in which he urges lawmakers to work toward promoting the common good, and canonizes the Franciscan missionary St. Junípero Serra. He also attends the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, which focuses on celebrating the gift of the family.
Oct. 4 — Pope Francis begins the second Synod on the Family to address issues within the modern family, such as single-parent homes, cohabitation, poverty, and abuse.
Oct. 18 — The pope canonizes St. Louis Martin and St. Marie-Azélie “Zelie” Guérin. The married couple were parents to five nuns, including St. Therese of Lisieux. They are the first married couple to be canonized together.
Dec. 8 — Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year of Mercy begins. The year focuses on God’s mercy and forgiveness and people’s redemption from sin. The pope delegates certain priests in each diocese to be Missionaries of Mercy who have the authority to forgive sins that are usually reserved for the Holy See.
2016
March 19 — Pope Francis publishes the apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia, which discusses a wide variety of issues facing the modern family based on discussions from the two synods on the family. The pope garners significant controversy from within the Church for comments he makes in Chapter 8 about Communion for the divorced and remarried.
April 16 — After visiting refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos, Pope Francis allows three Muslim refugee families to join him on his flight back to Rome. He says the move was not a political statement.
Pope Francis at the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, Feb. 24, 2016. Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
July 26–31 — Pope Francis visits Krakow, Poland, as part of the World Youth Day festivities. About 3 million young Catholic pilgrims from around the world attend.
Sept. 4 — The pope canonizes St. Teresa of Calcutta, who is also known as Mother Teresa. The saint, a nun from Albania, dedicated her life to missionary and charity work, primarily in India.
Sept. 30–Oct. 2 — Pope Francis visits Georgia and Azerbaijan on his 16th trip outside of Rome since the start of his papacy. His trip focuses on Catholic relations with Orthodox Christians and Muslims.
Oct. 4 — Pope Francis makes a surprise visit to Amatrice, Italy, to pray for the victims of an earthquake in central Italy that killed nearly 300 people.
2017
May 12–13 — In another papal trip, Francis travels to Fatima, Portugal, to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. May 13 marks the 100th anniversary of the first Marian apparition to three children in the city.
July 11 — Pope Francis adds another category of Christian life suitable for the consideration of sainthood: “offering of life.” The category is distinct from martyrdom, which only applies to someone who is killed for his or her faith. The new category applies to those who died prematurely through an offering of their life to God and neighbor.
Pope Francis greets a participant in the World Day of the Poor in Rome, Nov. 16, 2017. L’Osservatore Romano.
Nov. 19 — On the first-ever World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis eats lunch with 4,000 poor and people in need in Rome.
Nov. 27–Dec. 2 — In another trip to Asia, Pope Francis travels to Myanmar and Bangladesh. He visits landmarks and meets with government officials, Catholic clergy, and Buddhist monks. He also preaches the Gospel and promotes peace in the region.
2018
Jan. 15–21 — The pope takes another trip to Latin America, this time visiting Chile and Peru. The pontiff meets with government officials and members of the clergy while urging the faithful to remain close to the clergy and reject secularism. The Chilean visit leads to controversy over Chilean clergy sex abuse scandals.
Aug. 2 — The Vatican formally revises No. 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which concerns the death penalty. The previous text suggested the death penalty could be permissible in certain circumstances, but the revision states that the death penalty is “inadmissible.”
Aug. 25 — Archbishop Carlo Viganò, former papal nuncio to the United States, publishes an 11-page letter calling for the resignation of Pope Francis and accusing him and other Vatican officials of covering up sexual abuse including allegations against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The pope initially does not directly respond to the letter, but nine months after its publication he denies having prior knowledge about McCarrick’s conduct.
Aug. 25–26 — Pope Francis visits Dublin, Ireland, to attend the World Meeting of Families. The theme is “the Gospel of family, joy for the world.”
Pope Francis at the 2018 World Meeting of Families in Ireland. . Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
Oct. 3–28 — The Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment takes place. The synod focuses on best practices to teach the faith to young people and to help them discern God’s will.
2019
Jan. 22–27 — The third World Youth Day during Pope Francis’ pontificate takes place during these six days in Panama City, Panama. Young Catholics from around the world gather for the event, with approximately 3 million people in attendance.
Feb. 4 — Pope Francis signs a joint document in with Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, titled the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together.” The document focuses on people of different faiths uniting together to live peacefully and advance a culture of mutual respect.
Pope Francis and Ahmed el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar, signed a joint declaration on human fraternity during an interreligious meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Feb. 4, 2019. Vatican Media.
Feb. 21–24 — The Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church, which is labeled the Vatican Sexual Abuse Summit, takes place. The meeting focuses on sexual abuse scandals in the Church and emphasizes responsibility, accountability, and transparency.
Oct. 6–27 — The Church holds the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon region, which is also known as the Amazon Synod. The synod is meant to present ways in which the Church can better evangelize the Amazon region but leads to controversy when carved images of a pregnant Amazonian woman, referred to by the pope as Pachamama, are used in several events and displayed in a basilica near the Vatican.
Oct. 13 — St. John Henry Newman, an Anglican convert to Catholicism and a cardinal, is canonized by Pope Francis. Newman’s writings inspired Catholic student associations at nonreligious colleges and universities in the United States and other countries.
2020
March 15 — Pope Francis takes a walking pilgrimage in Rome to the chapel of the crucifix and prays for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. The crucifix was carried through Rome during the plague of 1522.
March 27 — Pope Francis gives an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing in an empty and rain-covered St. Peter’s Square, praying for the world during the coronavirus pandemic.
Pope Francis venerates the miraculous crucifix of San Marcello al Corso in St. Peter’s Square during his Urbi et Orbi blessing, March 27, 2020. Vatican Media.
2021
March 5–8 — In his first papal trip since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis becomes the first pope to visit Iraq. On his trip, he signs a joint statement with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani condemning extremism and promoting peace.
July 3 — Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, who was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis, is indicted in a Vatican court for embezzlement, money laundering, and other crimes. The pope gives approval for the indictment.
July 4 — Pope Francis undergoes colon surgery for diverticulitis, a common condition in older people. The Vatican releases a statement that assures the pope “reacted well” to the surgery. Francis is released from the hospital after 10 days.
July 16 — Pope Francis issues a motu proprio titled Traditionis custodes. The document imposes heavy restrictions on the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass.
Dec. 2–6 — The pope travels to Cyprus and Greece. The trip includes another visit to the Greek island of Lesbos to meet with migrants.
Pope Francis greets His Beatitude Ieronymos II in Athens, Greece on Dec. 5, 2021. Vatican Media
2022
Jan. 11 — Pope Francis makes a surprise visit to a record store in Rome called StereoSound. The pope, who has an affinity for classical music, blesses the newly renovated store.
March 19 — The pope promulgates Praedicate evangelium, which reforms the Roman Curia. The reforms emphasize evangelization and establish more opportunities for the laity to be in leadership positions.
May 5 — Pope Francis is seen in a wheelchair for the first time in public and begins to use one more frequently. The pope has been suffering from knee problems for months.
Pope Francis greeted the crowd in a wheelchair at the end of his general audience on Aug. 3, 2022. Daniel Ibanez/CNA
July 24–30 — In his first papal visit to Canada, Pope Francis apologizes for the harsh treatment of the indigenous Canadians, saying many Christians and members of the Catholic Church were complicit.
2023
Jan. 31–Feb. 5 — Pope Francis travels to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. During his visit, the pope condemns political violence in the countries and promotes peace. He also participates in an ecumenical prayer service with Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Moderator of the Church of Scotland Iain Greenshields.
Archbishop Faustino Armendáriz of Durango, Mexico. / Credit: Archdiocese of Durango
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 20, 2023 / 18:00 pm (CNA).
The archbishop of Durango, Mexico, Faustino Armendáriz, commented that “it’s a challenge to seek the will of Go… […]
9 Comments
That was a moving moment. What I fear is that we have not “moved” beyond it. We will sentimentally remember the Pope in that picture (and maybe defer from being critical because he’s sick) but this trip down memory lane has to be joined to the purification of memory. And THAT involves an honest, public, and broadly participatory (even more than “synodal”) input that asks and assesses the performance of the “field hospital” (that fled the battlefield for at least a half a year in most places), whether the protocols followed were good, and what we will do the next time something like this threatens. THAT kind of discussion doesn’t seem to be forthcoming (COVID isn’t even mentioned in the Synodal Final Document, a risible omission considering it closed the ecclesial communion, participation, and mission for months if not a year). If it isn’t, these pictures are nice but they’re kind of like Facebook: “We thought we’d share a memory with you….”
Unfortunately, when it came to Covid, many at the highest levels of Church leadership appeared to have no more faith than anyone else– and today’s bishops should be leading the call for accountability for the sins of 2020-2023, except that many of them are among the guilty. We need to make sure that the abuses of power in secular government and the cowardice of Church leaders is not repeated.
I posted this over at NC Register. (Rather obviously, I did not defer because the Pope is not doing well physically. Five years later, I’m still salty about this.)
.
“Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?”
.
Seriously? It wasn’t the laity that closed the parishes, withheld the Eucharist, refused to celebrate weddings, denied Last Rites, demanded everyone be vaccinated with an experimental vaccine. Not that a lot of folks would not have come to Mass if parishes had not been closed–many would have stayed home, but many would have gone. Many would have joined together to pray the rosary in front of a Monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament if that had been an option.
.
But it wasn’t. This is on the Hierarchy, and to the best of my knowledge, there has been no acknowledgement or apology.
The photo at the top says more than a thousand words. What the solitary man said may have been recorded but no one was present to listen. And now, who cares?
I don’t claim to be good at math, but if y’all will check my figures, I’d appreciate that. The Church in Africa grew by 9 million members from 2022 to 2023, while the rest of the world added only another 7 million?? Can we conclude that the historical home of Christendom continue to shed Christians while the number of Catholics grows and apparently thrives in traditional missionary land.
🕊️ Thoughtful reflections here—COVID challenged the Church deeply, not just spiritually but institutionally. 😔🙏 A sincere, open reckoning is needed to heal, learn, and ensure we never close the doors on the faithful again. ⛪💔 #FaithAndAccountability #ChurchAfterCovid
⛪🌧️ That unforgettable moment in the rain still speaks volumes today — faith over fear. Thank you, Pope Francis, for reminding us to trust in God’s presence through every storm. 🙏🌍 #StatioOrbis #DoNotBeAfraid
“Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?”
Sad the man who participated in locking down of parishes and preventing the Mass. And participated in mandatory masks, forced vaccination schemes and vaccine pass ports.
That was a moving moment. What I fear is that we have not “moved” beyond it. We will sentimentally remember the Pope in that picture (and maybe defer from being critical because he’s sick) but this trip down memory lane has to be joined to the purification of memory. And THAT involves an honest, public, and broadly participatory (even more than “synodal”) input that asks and assesses the performance of the “field hospital” (that fled the battlefield for at least a half a year in most places), whether the protocols followed were good, and what we will do the next time something like this threatens. THAT kind of discussion doesn’t seem to be forthcoming (COVID isn’t even mentioned in the Synodal Final Document, a risible omission considering it closed the ecclesial communion, participation, and mission for months if not a year). If it isn’t, these pictures are nice but they’re kind of like Facebook: “We thought we’d share a memory with you….”
Unfortunately, when it came to Covid, many at the highest levels of Church leadership appeared to have no more faith than anyone else– and today’s bishops should be leading the call for accountability for the sins of 2020-2023, except that many of them are among the guilty. We need to make sure that the abuses of power in secular government and the cowardice of Church leaders is not repeated.
I posted this over at NC Register. (Rather obviously, I did not defer because the Pope is not doing well physically. Five years later, I’m still salty about this.)
.
“Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?”
.
Seriously? It wasn’t the laity that closed the parishes, withheld the Eucharist, refused to celebrate weddings, denied Last Rites, demanded everyone be vaccinated with an experimental vaccine. Not that a lot of folks would not have come to Mass if parishes had not been closed–many would have stayed home, but many would have gone. Many would have joined together to pray the rosary in front of a Monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament if that had been an option.
.
But it wasn’t. This is on the Hierarchy, and to the best of my knowledge, there has been no acknowledgement or apology.
Well said, MrsHess.
The photo at the top says more than a thousand words. What the solitary man said may have been recorded but no one was present to listen. And now, who cares?
I don’t claim to be good at math, but if y’all will check my figures, I’d appreciate that. The Church in Africa grew by 9 million members from 2022 to 2023, while the rest of the world added only another 7 million?? Can we conclude that the historical home of Christendom continue to shed Christians while the number of Catholics grows and apparently thrives in traditional missionary land.
It’s known. Confidence, faith, and fearless minds add life to our life span.
🕊️ Thoughtful reflections here—COVID challenged the Church deeply, not just spiritually but institutionally. 😔🙏 A sincere, open reckoning is needed to heal, learn, and ensure we never close the doors on the faithful again. ⛪💔 #FaithAndAccountability #ChurchAfterCovid
⛪🌧️ That unforgettable moment in the rain still speaks volumes today — faith over fear. Thank you, Pope Francis, for reminding us to trust in God’s presence through every storm. 🙏🌍 #StatioOrbis #DoNotBeAfraid
“Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?”
Sad the man who participated in locking down of parishes and preventing the Mass. And participated in mandatory masks, forced vaccination schemes and vaccine pass ports.