Vatican City, April 30, 2022 – “The doctor told me not to walk.” He says it openly Pope francesco, speaking off the cuff at the end of today’s audience in the Vatican to the delegation of Slovak pilgrims. From the Paul VI Hall, the pontiff does not hide his regret at not being able to pay homage to the authorities who have arrived in the Vatican standing up: “Afterwards I will greet you but there is a problem: this leg is not good, it does not work, and the doctor has told not to walk “, he explains to those present. “I like to go but this time I have to obey the doctor – he adds -. This is why I will ask you for the sacrifice of going up the stairs and I will greet you from here, sitting. It is a humiliation but I offer it for your country”, he concludes. These are the same knee problems for which 85-year-old Bergoglio was forced to give up his visit to Kiev for the moment. The pontiff has been suffering for days, unable to stand up for greetings. Many commitments that Francis had to give up, including the Mass of Divine Mercy last Sunday.
The hearing
Once again there is war at the center of Francis’ audience. Conflict that “violates family ties, deprives children of the presence of their fathers, of school, and leaves their grandparents abandoned”. Bergoglio urges “to continue to pray and work for peace, which is built in our everyday life, even with these gestures of welcoming charity. And I know that you are in solidarity, not only with neighboring brothers, but also with those far away, those of Cuba “.
Francis also returns to his recent trip to Bratislava, which took place in the name of dialogue and hospitality. “They let me know that the large carpet used for the stage during the meeting with the Roma community, in Kosice, was cut and distributed among the families of the neighborhood, and can be used to welcome the door of every house”, he points out. “As a guest I was received by you with bread and salt. The salt of welcome that refers to the salt of the Gospel”. And he recalls the generosity of the Slovaks with the Ukrainian displaced persons: “Recently your welcome has been shown again, this time in the tragic context of the war. In recent months, many of your families, parishes and institutions have received mothers with their parents under their roof. children of Ukrainian families forced to split up to save themselves, arrived with their poor luggage “. Also during today’s audience, Bergoglio accepted the resignation from the office of Apostolic Nuncio in Malta and Libya, presented by HE Mons. Alessandro D’Errico, titular Archbishop of Carini.