“The Holy See is following the situation closely and expresses concern about any future actions that could further compromise dialogue.”

“As superior general,” Father Arturo Sosa said of Father Nicolás, “he brought to the Society his deep missionary vocation that helped us to see the universality of the mission from the perspective and the passion of presenting the Good News in all corners of the world.”

Francis celebrated the centenary Mass at the altar on the tomb of St. John Paul II. And for the first time since the national lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic, he celebrated in the presence of over 100 people.

Pope Francis asked the group to ‘prepare the future’ not ‘prepare for the future.’

The pope also called on people “to embrace all those who are experiencing situations of precariousness, abandonment, marginalization and rejection as a result of Covid-19.”

The Holy See, the central government of the Catholic Church, is in crisis mode as it struggles to find ways to balance its budget in these turbulent times.