Anima rector: "Urbi et orbi" difficult to imagine without Pope Francis

The rector of the German-speaking church of Santa Maria dell'Anima in Rome finds it hard to imagine the traditional blessing "Urbi et orbi" without the Pope. Although the address, in which the various crises in the world are addressed, can be read out by a member of staff, the actual prayer of blessing is a different matter, said the Austrian priest Michael Max in an interview with "Vatican News" (Tuesday). "If at all possible, Pope Francis will say the blessing formula himself," the priest said with conviction.

The flow of pilgrims increases particularly around Easter, and with it the hope of many visitors to see the Pope in person at the Easter celebrations. Max himself assumes that all visitors "are expecting and looking forward to the fact that the Pope will certainly be present in one way or another at the great Easter services, at Urbi et orbi and at the canonisation of Carlo Acutis."

Holy year is going well

The clergyman, who is also Austria's national delegate for the Holy Year, sees the Pope as a "pilgrim of hope" during his illness and ongoing recovery - in keeping with the motto of the Jubilee Year. "The way he is now dealing with his illness, the way he is presenting himself, the way he is also embarking on the path to recovery in his ministry, in his weakness, in his illness, he really is a pilgrim of hope, because you can feel the hope in him that sustains him," Max continued.

You can also sense in the head of the Church the attitude that it is not he or the doctors who decide: "God decides how this pontificate will continue and perhaps come to an end. Regarding the Holy Year itself, Max said that it was going well. Many groups and pilgrims have been received so far, including many dioceses from German-speaking countries. (KNA)