By Jean DuBois
FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 1 November 2020 (ORCNS)
His Holy Eminence d. Rutherford I, Florentine Archfather gave a blessing ex Florentia-Nova Roma today with the customary plenary indulgence. The address that often precedes such a blessing had greetings for the feast in the official languages of the Anglican Patriarchate, Italian, English, Spanish, German, French, Greek, and Russian, and focused on taking inspiration from the lives of the saints. The faithful were reminded that the saints were once human, but now are in heaven interceding for us here on earth.
His Holy Eminence stated that the saints are a constant source of help during "...the humanitarian crisis sparked by government response to the present pandemic, and with government and other institutions joining together in an ever unrelenting attack on the rights and indeed the very sovereignty of holy mother the church." The Archfather stated that the faithful must seek the intervention of the Blessed Virgin for an increase of faith and the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel for a preservation of sovereignty of the Patriarchate. His Holy Eminence called on the faithful to resist the civil states who seek to restrict or destroy the Church.
The address was followed by an announcement of the indulgences, which was then followed by the blessing. The blessing began with the usual invocation of Saint Stephen the Deacon and Saint Mark the Apostle. Those who receive the blessing, even by media, and who further fulfill the norms of indulgences receive a plenary indulgence.
Video of the address and blessing: