Pope Francis on Sunday delivered his Sunday blessing over the internet from inside the Vatican instead of from a window, Reuters has reported.
He however went to the window to wave silently to a few hundreds of Catholic faithful in the square, which usually attracts thousands of people.
The move was aimed at stopping crowds gathering in order to contain the spreading of Coronavirus which has hit Italy with about 463 deaths as of March 9.
The pope said he felt “caged.”
The pope said, “It’s a bit strange this Angelus prayer today with the pope caged in the library, but I see you and I am close to you.”
Reuters reported that apart from the times he travelled outside Rome, it was the first time the pope would skip the blessing and reading an address from the window since 2013 when he was elected.
Last week, Francis had skipped a Lenten retreat with senior Vatican officials near Rome due to cold. He had appeared to have recovered from a cold on Sunday.
“I am close in prayer to people who are suffering because of the current coronavirus epidemic as well as to all those who are taking care of them,” he said.
The pope also encouraged the faithful “to live this difficult moment with the strength of faith, the certainty of hope and the fervour of charity.”
The window was then opened and he waved briefly and silently.
Reuters further reported that some pilgrims had from far distances hoping to get the blessing directly.
“I am bitterly disappointed,” said Pamela Kennedy, 66, of Yukon, Oklahoma, who was in the square with her husband, Bill.
“We started planning this trip a couple of years ago to mark our 20th wedding anniversary and the 20th anniversary of my becoming Catholic,” she told Reuters.