Pope Francis is praying for a homeless man in Nigeria who died just meters from St. Peter’s Square and reminding reporters of their task of testifying directly to the truth.
By Devin Watkins
After praying to Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis paused for a moment to pray for Edwin, a homeless Nigerian man left to die alone on a cold Roman night.
“On January 20, just a few meters from St. Peter’s Square, a homeless Nigerian man named Edwin was found dead of the cold,” the pope said. “His situation is similar to that of many other homeless people who recently died in Rome in the same dramatic circumstances.”
The pope invited everyone to pray for Edwin and paused for a few seconds in prayer.
He said Edwin, 46, was ignored by everyone.
“He was abandoned by us, too,” Pope Francis said. “Let’s pray for him.”
The pope then recalled a story from the papacy of St. Gregory the Great. When he witnessed the death of a beggar in the cold, 6of In the twentieth century, the Pope ordered the suspension of all Masses for a whole day, “because it was the same on Good Friday.”
Journalists and witnesses
Pope Francis also reminded that Sunday is the feast of St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of journalists.
He referred to his message for World Communications Day 2021, which was launched on Saturday, under the title “Come and see”.
He said it was an invitation for everyone to communicate by meeting others where and how they are.
“I urge all journalists and communicators to go and see, even if no one wants to go and testify about the truth,” he said.
Pray for Christian unity
Separately, the Pope recalled the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which will be celebrated on Monday with vespers at St. Paul’s Basilica outside the walls.
“I invite you all to join us spiritually in prayer,” he urged.