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# Pope Francis Recited the Angelus Alone on St Stephen's Day Under Italy's Lockdown
- URL: https://theparnassian.com/en/papa-frantsisk-segodnia-vpervye-naskolko-pomniu-prochital-molitvu-angel-gospoden-v-chest-prazdnika-sviatogo-stefana-v-odinochestve-podderzhivaia-mery-italianskogo-lokdauna/
- Published: 2020-12-26T12:39:16.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-02T18:59:37.000Z
- Author: Alexandr Radayev
- Tags: Faith, Society, Rome

Pope Francis today, for the first time as far as I can remember, recited the Angelus on the Feast of Saint Stephen alone, in support of Italy's lockdown measures. Traditionally, after Christmas, Catholics honour Stephen, the martyr stoned to death in the very first persecutions of the Christians. On the day of the Protomartyr, sermons are usually preached about the hardships that are an ordinary part of life, like its joys, and that must be met with humility and faith. The footage of Francis standing alone recalls the words of Pope Leo VI, who described the years of his pontificate as solitary and characterised them with the phrase "I and God".