Pope pushes through nerve pain to give new year’s blessing

Two people stand in an empty St Peter’s Square, at the Vatican as Pope Francis recites the Angelus noon prayer in his studio (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

Pope Francis has ushered in 2021 with a traditional Angelus blessing from the papal library, pushing through nerve pain that forced him to skip new year ceremonies in St Peter’s Basilica.

The pope appeared relaxed as he stood at a lectern in the Apostolic Palace wishing the faithful watching via video “a year of peace, a year of hope”.