Pope Francis has asked this of all Christians - to unite in praying the Our Father - Lord's Prayer together , and with him, at noon Wednesday March 25, 2020.
He asked: "Let us remain united. Let us make our closeness felt toward those persons who are the most lonely and tried . . ."
“In these trying days, while humanity trembles due to the threat of the pandemic, I would like to propose to all Christians that together we lift our voices towards Heaven,” he said.
Inviting:". . . the Heads of the Churches and the leaders of every Christian community, together with all Christians of the various confessions, to invoke the Almighty, the omnipotent God, to recite at the same time the prayer that Jesus, our Lord, taught us” – the Our Father. “On that day on which many Christians recall the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary of the Incarnation of the Word”, Pope Francis prayed, “may the Lord listen to the united prayer of all of His disciples who are preparing themselves to celebrate the victory of the Risen Christ”.
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Pope Francis also says that on Friday March 27 (in 2 days) he will preside over a moment of prayer including reading of scripture, supplication and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament which will then conclude with Pope Francis conferring the special Urbi et Orbi blessing which is normally only given on Christmas and Easter. Anyone participating through radio television or social media could (according to the attached conditions) be able to gain a plenary indulgence.
The service and blessing will be broadcast from Rome on Friday March 23, 2020 at 6:00 pm Rome Time (which means on Friday at 1:00 pm Eastern Time here in North America) :
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/pope-calls-for-christians-to-unite-in-prayer-for-end-to-pandemic.html
Also from Vatican News , concerning COVID-19 and indulgences:
More can be read (from the same article) concerning conditions for the plenary indulgence at the following link-
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-03/church-grants-special-indulgence-coronavirus-patients.html
He asked: "Let us remain united. Let us make our closeness felt toward those persons who are the most lonely and tried . . ."
“In these trying days, while humanity trembles due to the threat of the pandemic, I would like to propose to all Christians that together we lift our voices towards Heaven,” he said.
Inviting:". . . the Heads of the Churches and the leaders of every Christian community, together with all Christians of the various confessions, to invoke the Almighty, the omnipotent God, to recite at the same time the prayer that Jesus, our Lord, taught us” – the Our Father. “On that day on which many Christians recall the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary of the Incarnation of the Word”, Pope Francis prayed, “may the Lord listen to the united prayer of all of His disciples who are preparing themselves to celebrate the victory of the Risen Christ”.
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Pope Francis also says that on Friday March 27 (in 2 days) he will preside over a moment of prayer including reading of scripture, supplication and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament which will then conclude with Pope Francis conferring the special Urbi et Orbi blessing which is normally only given on Christmas and Easter. Anyone participating through radio television or social media could (according to the attached conditions) be able to gain a plenary indulgence.
The service and blessing will be broadcast from Rome on Friday March 23, 2020 at 6:00 pm Rome Time (which means on Friday at 1:00 pm Eastern Time here in North America) :
"The ceremony will consist in readings from the Scriptures, prayers of supplication, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; and will conclude with Pope Francis giving the Urbi et orbi Blessing, with the possibility of gaining a plenary indulgence for all those who listen to it live through the various forms of communication. The blessing “to the City [of Rome] and to the World” is normally only given on Christmas and Easter.
The Director of the Holy See Press Office confirmed that the moment of prayer on Friday will be broadcast live from the Vatican, beginning at 6 pm Rome time. He noted that the plenary indulgence attached to the Urbi et orbi blessing is subject to the conditions foreseen by the recent Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary"
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/pope-calls-for-christians-to-unite-in-prayer-for-end-to-pandemic.html
Also from Vatican News , concerning COVID-19 and indulgences:
On 20 March, the Apostolic Penitentiary issued a decree granting plenary indulgences to “the faithful suffering from the Covid-19 virus, commonly known as coronavirus, as well as to healthcare workers, family members and all those who in any capacity, including through prayer, care for them.”
The document comes in response to pastoral, spiritual and sacramental concerns for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which has raised “new uncertainties and above all widespread physical and moral suffering”.
The decree is signed by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, the Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, and the Regent, Father Krzysztof Nykiel.
More can be read (from the same article) concerning conditions for the plenary indulgence at the following link-
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-03/church-grants-special-indulgence-coronavirus-patients.html