Extraordinary security measures have been implemented in the Vatican since the first Sunday of Advent.
Pope Francis welcomed the cease-fire in Lebanon in his speech in St. Peter's Square on the first Sunday of Advent, on which the extraordinary security plan for the Christmas period and the Jubilee Holy Year came into effect.
Pope Francis expressed his hope that all sides will respect the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which will allow the population that fled the border region to return home, he added.
The head of the church called for the election of the new Lebanese head of state as soon as possible, as well as the resumption of institutional life, which could enable the country to become "an example of peaceful coexistence between peoples"2.
He believed that a cease-fire could encourage rapprochement towards peace on all war fronts. He mentioned Gaza first, but also urged the release of the Israelis still being held hostage.
The Pope spoke about Syria and the almost three-year war in Ukraine.
War is a horror, war offends God and humanity, war spares no one, war always means defeat for all humanity! he declared.
On the first Sunday of Advent, extraordinary preparations were put into effect in the areas of the Papal State that can be visited, above all in St. Peter's Square, from which St. Peter's Basilica also opens. According to Vatican data, St. Peter's Basilica is visited by 40,000 to 50,000 people every day, and the number will be even higher during the Christmas period and during the Holy Year, which begins on December 24, for which around 30 million visitors are expected.
According to the emergency security plan, vehicular traffic is prohibited on the Roman streets leading directly to St. Peter's Square from early in the morning, and pedestrians are also directed to safety points to prevent them from freely approaching the square from any direction.
Double checks have been introduced and those entering the square and the basilica will be subject to additional metal detector screening. It is forbidden to bring bottles, water bottles and photographic tripods into the part of town declared a red zone. In addition to the soldiers of the Italian armed forces serving on the streets leading to St. Peter's Square since 2015, a large number of policemen, gendarmes and security personnel in civilian clothes can be seen.
On December 7, the lights of the Christmas tree in Szent Péter Square will be switched on. On December 8, on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis will inaugurate new cardinals. And on December 24, a several-hour ceremony will take place in the basilica, as the Christmas Eve vigil and the opening of the holy gate coincide.
From Sunday, special security measures are in place at all entrances to the Vatican, including the Vatican Museum, as well as at the most popular points in Rome, from the Colosseum to the shopping streets.
MTI
Cover photo: Pope Francis
Source: Facebook/Vatican News
