announcement: Celebration of 24 Hours for the Lord in 2020

Due to the emergency situation in Italy and Rome linked to the coronavirus COVID-19, the usual Penitential Celebration at which Pope Francis should have presided in Saint Peter's Basilica this forthcoming Friday, March 20, at 17:00, has been cancelled.

This state of affairs, which persists in many countries, will make it difficult for many of the faithful to celebrate 24 Hours for the Lord which requires churches to be open in order to adore Christ in the Eucharist and receive His forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession. However, we ask the faithful experiencing this emergency to maintain as far as possible the penitential character of 24 Hours for the Lord, by, for example, meditating and praying before a Crucifix. We ask all the faithful, even those who are able to celebrate 24 Hours for the Lord as in previous years, to pray for the Holy Father, for Bishops and Clergy everywhere, and for all those who in our societies are invested with responsibility for the common good, for medical care, for public order, and, not least, for those who are sick or who have loved ones who are so.

The Pastoral Aid for 24 Hours for the Lord is available on the website of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization in the following languages: Italian, English, Spanish and Polish. On the same site, it continues to be possible for Dioceses, Parishes, Religious Communities, Shrines, Movements, Lay Associations and all organizations engaged in the New Evangelization to report how they will or have celebrated 24 Hours for the Lord.