Post date: Nov 17, 2013 8:30:54 PM
Pope Francis jokes about being a pharmacist and advises everyone that prayer is the best medicine to spread love, forgiveness and brotherhood everywhere.
VATICAN (NOVEMBER 17, 2013) (CTV) - Pope Francis on Sunday (November 17) greeted thousands of visitors in St. Peter's Square and arranged for a surprise medicine to be handed out at the end of his Angelus Prayer.
Smiling and joking about why a Pope should be prescribing medicine, he announced the surprise gift."I would like to now recommend a medicine to all of you. But some of you are thinking: 'Is the Pope a pharmacist now?" said Pope Francis.
"It is a 'spiritual medicine' called mercy. A box of 59 threaded beads. This box contains the medicine and volunteers will distribute them to you as you leave the square. Take one!" urged the Pope.
"It will provide spiritual help for our souls and help to spread love, forgiveness and brotherhood everywhere. Do not forget to take it, because it will do you good, eh? It is good for the heart, the soul, and for all your life!"
After conducting the weekly Angelus prayer and blessing the pilgrims, the pope bade farewell with his now trademark Sunday greeting of "Goodbye and good lunch".
Volunteers distributed some 20,000 'medicine boxes' containing rosaries although Italian press estimated the crowds in the square to be more like 40,000 people.