Masked pope, faith leaders pray for peace and pandemic's end

A masked Pope Francis welcomed religious leaders to a socially-distanced interfaith peace prayer Tuesday, appealing for a unified international effort to work for peace and an end to coronavirus pandemic.

Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh and Hindu leaders stood for a minute of silence to pray for all victims of COVID-19 and a universally available vaccine, as sun set on piazza overlooking Roman Forum.

“ pandemic is reminding us that we are blood brors and sisters,” y said in a joint appeal issued at end of service.

For weeks, Francis has shunned facemasks in his public and private audiences despite a surge in COVID-19 cases across Italy and even inside Vatican City. But he donned one throughout prayer service Tuesday, removing it only to speak. In a sense he was only following Italian law, since facemasks must w be worn indoors and out.

His invited guests followed suit, keeping ir distance from one ar and using individual pens to sign joint appeal. microphone was disinfected after each speaker finished delivering remarks about need to work for an end to wars, hunger, terrorism — and pandemic.

event brought a host of religious leaders to Eternal City despite virus-related travel restrictions: spiritual leader of world’s Orthodox Christians, Patriarch Bartholomew I, was on hand from Istanbul, Turkey while or leaders came from continental Europe and beyond.

service was organized by Rome-based Sant’Egidio Community, which each year organizes an interfaith peace prayer in spirit of first one of its kind, celebrated by St. John Paul II in Assisi in 1986. Onto list of wars, conflicts and civil strife that have featured in past peace prayers, this year’s edition was shaped from start to finish by pandemic.

“May we immediately unite our efforts to contain spread of virus until re is a vaccine that is suitable and available to all,” said joint appeal.

Francis focused his remarks on temptation to “save yourself,” and think of your own problems and interests “as if thing else mattered.”

“It is a very human instinct, but wrong,” Francis said.

“ people, social group, can single-handedly achieve peace, prosperity, security and happiness. ne," he said. “ lesson learned from recent pandemic, if we wish to be honest, is awareness that we are a global community, all in same boat, where one person’s problems are problems of all.'''

Francis has drawn criticism from even his ardent followers for shunning facemasks during his recent Wednesday general audiences. In Italy, onetime European epicenter of outbreak, coronavirus infections are surging after a summertime lull, with 10,874 new ones confirmed Tuesday and ar 89 victims.

In past week 11 Swiss Guards and a resident of hotel where Francis lives have tested positive. At 83 and with part of a lung removed when he was in his 20s due to illness, pope would be at high-risk for COVID-19 complications.