In a Vatican where the ceremonial is settled to the millimeter, the scenario is surprising: while Pascale mass was celebrated on the forecourt of the Saint-Pierre basilica, Sunday April 20, Pope Francis received, in his apartments, the American vice-president, JD Vance; It is also during this mass, one of the most sacred moments of the year for Christians, that the services of the Holy See chose to disseminate a press release to announce this “Private meeting for a few minutes”during which the two men were able to “Exchange their wishes on the occasion of Easter Day”.
In this way of doing things, it is less the spiritual mission of the pontiff than its temporal power. The message addressed to the Church and the Curia is clear: less than a month after leaving the hospital, the 88 -year -old Pope intends to remain sovereign in his kingdom and the only master of the calendar.
This message is not obvious, as François is physically weakened. On Sunday, he appeared on the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica at the end of the celebration, the featured and frozen features. “Dear brothers and sisters, joyful Easter”he only could launch, in a breath, to the 35,000 people gathered in the square. The Urbi and Orbi blessing (“in the city and the world”) was read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli.
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Source: Lemonde