Cardinal Tagle would be the first Filipino cardinal to lead Simbang Gabi in Rome
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle would be the first Filipino cardinal to lead at the Simbang Gabi in Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
This, as he would preside at the Simbang Gabi in Rome on December 20.
Only a limited number of faithful will be allowed to attend the mass due to the current COVID-19 restrictions in Italy, adding that the mass would start at 3:30 p.m.
Sentro Pilipino Chaplaincy priest Fr. Ricky Gente said that the Pope earlier agreed to hold Simbang Gabi at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City but only 168 people and a maximum of three priests will be allowed to concelebrate the mass due to safety protocols.
This would have been the fifth year that Simbang Gabi was held at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
The parish council opted for the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome which allowed over 200 churchgoers.
Sally Manila, a member of the pastoral council of worship commission of the Chaplaincy, said that they took the brunt of the difficult task in order to distribute and divide the allotted 230 tickets.
In order to accommodate those who wanted to attend Cardinal Tagle’s mass, they would open the doors of Basilica di Santa Pudenziana to 70 people where a live feed of the Cardinal’s Simbang Gabi was projected on a white screen.
The holy communion would also be provided in Santa Pudenziana.
READ ALSO: Pope Francis Receives Cardinal Tagle In Audience In Rome
Meanwhile, the rest of the Simbang Gabi would be held at Basilica di Santa Pudenziana on 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
The Chaplaincy then assured that it would enforce the necessary adjustments following Italy’s coronavirus restrictions in religious activities & gatherings.
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