According to CNN, Pope Francis will not lead the Vatican's New Year's Eve and New Year's Day celebrations, because of sciatic pain.<br /> This is the first time the Pope has missed a New Year's Eve celebration, but it is not the first event he skipped. <br />On February 27, 84 year-old Pope Francis, canceled a scheduled mass, due to what The Vatican press office called a "slight imposition," denying rumors that he had Covid. <br />Pope Francis first shared that he had sciatica (herniation of spinal disk) during an inflight press conference during a 2013 trip to Brazil.<br />He said, "Sciatica is very painful, very painful! I don't wish it on anyone!"<br />The Pontiff has received treatments like massages and injections to help reduce his pain. <br />The Pope will be replaced by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, for Thursday's New Year's Eve service. <br />Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin will host Mass on Friday.<br />Pope Francis will still lead the Angelus prayer on New Year's Day.
