Franco Pisano

Doctors of the Law "believe themselves self-sufficient": I went to university, I did a doctorate, no, two doctorates. I know well, very well indeed, what the law says; in fact, I know it all, everything all of the explanations, all the cases, all the case studies". And they believe themselves self-sufficient and they despise people, they despise sinners: It is contempt for sinners”.

Today, the seventh anniversary of his election, Francis spoke of clericalism, unfaithfulness to the covenant of those who appropriate it, "ideologizing" it, of the free gift of self made by God.

Indifference is “forgetting the hungry children, forgetting those poor people massed on the borders of our countries, looking for freedom, these forced migrants who flee from hunger and war and only find a wall, a wall made of iron, a wall of barbed wire, but a wall that does not let them pass. We know this exists, but it doesn't reach our heart ... We are indifferent."

Today’s General Audience was adapted to the coronavirus crisis. The pontiff encouraged people to “face every situation, even the most difficult, with strength, responsibility and hope.” He warned against forgetting the Syrians “suffering on the border between Greece and Turkey.” For him, even in the most corrupt person yearns for the good.

In the mass celebrated this morning Francis also spoke about the persecuted Christians. “Think of many Christians, how cruelly they are persecuted. These days, the newspapers spoke of Asia Bibi: nine years in prison, suffering. It is the fury of the devil. "

"Have the courage to go with our miseries to speak to the Lord: 'Come, come! Discuss! Do not be afraid". "This is the invitation of the Lord. But there is always a deception: instead of going to talk to the Lord, pretend not to be sinners. " It is "appearance, vanity. Cover the truth of our heart with vanity. Vanity never heals! ".

“In these days I will offer Mass for the patients of this coronavirus epidemic, for doctors, nurses, volunteers who help so much, family members, for the elderly who are in nursing homes, for prisoners who are locked up.

The prayer and the general audience will be livestreamed by Vatican News on screens in St Peter's Square. The presence of the faithful during the morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta is also suspended.

With thousands of people pressing on the Greek border, the EU has joined Greece to say that Europe’s doors are closed. Athens accuses Ankara of using human traffickers.

Francis' reflection will start from the experience of Jesus who was displaced and made a refugee together with his parents, to reiterate the importance of the Christological reason for Christian welcome. The message will focus on the pastoral care of internally displaced people, which today number over 41 million worldwide.

The prelate urges daily prayers and offers recommendations in a letter to pastors and priests. The measures are temporary until Easter.

Six people from Sôn Lôi came back from a business trip to Wuhan with the virus. They and their municipality were quarantined from 13 February to 4 March. Now the lockdown has been lifted.