Pope's blessing in empty St Peter's Square watched by 11m on TV
Source: The Guardian
Hour-long address came as Italy said 969 people had died from Covid-19 in 24 hours
By Lorenzo Tondo
More than 11 million people tuned in to watch Pope Francis deliver a blessing in an empty Saint Peter’s Square, television bosses have said, as the Italian prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, said the EU risked losing its purpose.
The pope’s blessing, Urbi et Orbi (To the city and the world)is usually reserved for Christmas Day and Easter Sunday, with thousands flocking to take part.
Images of the cloudy sky and the glistening square on Saturday, with the pope, alone, praying upon a platform illuminated by the faint light of six candelabras, travelled the world over. “For weeks now it has been evening,” he said. “Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives.”
“The pandemic has reminded us that we are all in the same boat,” he added. “The storm exposes our vulnerability and uncovers those false and superfluous certainties around which we have constructed our daily schedules.”
Pope Francis gives his address in a deserted St Peter’s Square. Photograph: VATICAN MEDIA/AFP via Getty Images
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/28/popes-blessing-in-empty-st-peters-square-watched-by-11m-on-tv
= new reply since forum marked as read
I like this Pope too. The world can use all the prayers that it can get. Blessings to all...
“For weeks now it has been evening,” he said. “Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives.”
“The pandemic has reminded us that we are all in the same boat,” he added. “The storm exposes our vulnerability and uncovers those false and superfluous certainties around which we have constructed our daily schedules.”
Amen. 
I'm not religious anymore but that was very moving. 