Urbi et Orbi

“Urbi et Orbi” means “To the City [of Rome] and to the World.” It is a special apostolic blessing given by the pope every year on Easter Sunday, Christmas, and other special occasions.

In his "Urbi et Orbi" Christmas message given at midday in Saint Peter's Square, Pope Francis expressed the joy of this day when God shows us through the birth of Jesus the way of encounter and dialogue so that we might know it and follow it in trust and hope, something needed more than ever in our troubled world.

Pope Francis urged people around the world not to give up hope despite all the challenges, including the coronavirus pandemic, in his traditional Easter message “Urbi et Orbi” – to the city and the world.

How can the pope get closer to believers scattered around the planet at a moment of grave danger?

Full text of Pope Francis’ address during the extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing he delivered while praying for an end of the coronavirus.

Pope Francis announced Sunday that he will give an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing this week with the opportunity for Catholics to receive a plenary indulgence by tuning in via media.