Pope sends greetings for Lunar New Year

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis sent greetings to those celebrating Lunar New Year, marking the new year according to the traditional Chinese calendar.

At the end of his Sunday Angelus in St. Peter's Square, the Pope offered peace wishes to all those in the Far East, and in various parts of the world, who celebrate the Lunar New Year.

"On this joyous occasion, however," the Holy Father expressed, "I cannot fail to express my spiritual closeness to all those going through trying times caused by the coronavirus pandemic, in the hope that the present difficulties will soon be overcome."

"Happy New Year!" he said.

Celebrations in Asia

Lunar New Year,  or the Chinese New Year or often-called the 'Spring Festival' in mainland China, is one of the several Lunar New Years of Asia.

Ethnic Chinese and many non-Chinese people celebrate it worldwide.

It begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later, on the first full moon of the lunar calendar.