Pope Moves Weekly General Audience Indoors Amid Rome Heatwave
The Vatican has announced that Pope Leo XIV's weekly General Audience has been moved indoors to the Paul VI Audience Hall. The change was made due to a heatwave affecting Rome, with temperatures expected to reach 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) today, Wednesday, August 13.
The General Audience is a weekly event where the Pope reflects on a piece of religious scripture and offers a blessing to pilgrims. While the event will be held in the indoor hall, it will still be broadcast on large screens in St. Peter's Square for those who could not find a place inside. Following the audience, the Pope is expected to go into St. Peter's Basilica to greet the pilgrims who watched from the square.
This heatwave has also prompted Italy's health ministry to issue red alerts for numerous cities, including Rome, warning of the health risks posed by the extreme temperatures.
