Do not be afraid!

This particular Urbi et Orbi prayer (2020) and blessing by Pope Francis were a beacon of hope, a reminder that even when everything seemed dark, God never abandons us. Do not be afraid!

Five years later, that moment remains vivid in the Church’s memory. The image of the Pope in the rain, walking with a serene step, has become a symbol of unwavering faith. In a world paralysed by fear, his message was clear: “Do not be afraid,” because in the storm, Christ is with us.

The scene of the Pope praying for the world during the Statio Orbis* on 27 March 2020, has remained in our hearts.

And that concrete prayer, evoked by the Covid-19 pandemic, can help us alleviate the anxieties of the new crisis caused by the war in Eastern Europe, without forgetting the other conflicts on the planet. It is as if the Statio Orbis of two years ago continues to make itself relevant today, repeating with undiminished hope that appeal of Pope Francis: “Now, as we stand in rough seas, we implore you: ‘Wake up Lord!'”

“This anniversary is not only a memory of the past, but a call to the present. To continue trusting, to be witnesses of hope, to bring the light of Christ to those who still feel fear or loneliness. Because that March 27th left us with one certainty: God’s love is stronger than any storm”.  (Exaudi news Quote – see ‘Hope in the midst of the storm’ below).

In this first link various ecclesial organisations have taken the images filmed by Vatican Media on the evening of March 27, 2020 – the loneliness dense with presence around the Pope, the kiss at the feet of the rain-drenched Crucifix – reworking them in ways that go beyond the result of a simple commemoration.

Here is a series of these productions, beginning with the video by the Apostleship of Prayer: HERE

Also see powerful gallery of images HERE

And The Pastor in tune with the world  also Hope in the midst of the storm