The traditional General Audience on Wednesday did not take place on August 16, 2023, at the Vatican.
Instead, on Tuesday, August 15, Pope Francis led the Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
This was a brief suspension of the General Audience due to its proximity to the Marian feast celebrated the previous day. Following the hiatus of audiences in July, the General Audience on Wednesday, August 9, marked the resumption of this event.
During that audience, the Pope focused his reflection on his trip to the World Youth Day (WYD) in Lisbon, which took place from August 2 to 6.
It’s worth recalling another precedent that occurred on Wednesday, June 21, when Pope Francis did not preside over the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square due to medical reasons. This was due to an abdominal surgery he underwent on June 7. After a period of post-operative recovery, the Holy Father resumed his preaching in the General Audience on June 28. At Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis is preparing for his upcoming trip to Mongolia, scheduled to take place from August 31 to September 4. On June 3, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis will visit the Asian country, which borders Russia to the north and China to the south.
The Pontiff will visit the Asian nation, where over 3 million people reside, of which only 1,300 are Catholics, accounting for just 2% of the population being Christians.
In previous years, Popes used to spend their summer breaks at the Pontifical Palace of Castel Gandolfo, especially due to the high temperatures in Rome during the month of August. However, Pope Francis has chosen to remain at the Vatican.
