Pope Francis

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/pope-at-angelus-we-become-witnesses-through-gift-of-the-spirit.html

Pope at Angelus: We become witnesses through gift of the Spirit
08 March 2020, 12:30

In his reflection on the day’s Gospel, Pope Francis reminds the faithful that we are called to be Christ’s witnesses through a gift of the Spirit, and not on account of our own merits.
By Vatican News

On the Second Sunday of Lent, Pope Francis reflected on the Gospel account of the Transfiguration, when Jesus revealed His glory to the Apostles Peter, James, and John. The Holy Father delivered his Angelus address from the Library in the Apostolic Palace on Sunday, a precautionary measure in response to ongoing concerns about the coronavirus.

Understanding the mystery of His Person

The Pope explained that Jesus takes the disciples “and goes up a high mountain, symbol of closeness to God, to open them to a fuller understanding of the mystery of His Person, Who must suffer, die, and then rise again”. Through the “wondrous event of the Transfiguration”, he said, “the three disciples are called to recognize in Jesus the Son of God shining with glory”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/pope-francis-prays-for-those-affected-by-coronavirus-angelus.html
Pope Francis prays for those affected by coronavirus
08 March 2020, 12:54

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/pope-francis-appeals-syria-inhumane-situation-sunday-angelus.html
Pope appeals for an end to the suffering in war-torn Syria
08 March 2020, 12:18

https://zenit.org/articles/popes-angelus-address-on-the-transfiguration-full-text/
POPE’S ANGELUS ADDRESS: On the Transfiguration (FULL TEXT)
March 08, 2020 12:30  Deborah Castellano Lubov

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Angelus prayer 2020-03-08
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/pope-francis-daily-mass-casa-santa-marta-coronavirus.html

Pope Francis' Holy Mass at the Casa Santa Marta to be broadcast live
08 March 2020, 17:21

Pope Francis has decided that his daily Mass at the Casa Santa Marta will be broadcast live, so as to be close to all those who are suffering from the current coronavirus epidemic.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis' daily Mass from Casa Santa Marta will be livestreamed as of Monday, March 9. Pope Francis made this decision so as to be closer to those who are ill, in quarantine or, for whatever reason, unable to leave their homes.
 
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, said, when replying to questions from journalists, that "due to the risk of spreading the Covid-19 virus, the Holy Father has decided that the private Masses celebrated by him in the Casa Santa Marta be broadcast live in the coming days”. They will be made available through the Vatican News portal, and distributed by Vatican Media to the media partners and to those media outlets who request it. Matteo Bruni concluded his message saying that in this way, "those who would like to follow these celebrations, praying in union with the Bishop of Rome" could do so.

Pope Francis initiated the daily Mass at the Casa Santa Marta at the start of his pontificate. Since then, he has received thousands of the faithful who come in small groups. His homilies at this 7:00am Mass are always off the cuff and synthesized by Vatican Radio - Vatican News and by L'Osservatore Romano. These homilies have become a point of reference for many people throughout the world, and a source of inspiration for priests when preparing their own homilies.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/diocese-of-rome-cancels-all-public-masses-announces-day-of-fasting-and-prayer-54167

Diocese of Rome cancels all public Masses, announces day of fasting and prayer
By Courtney Mares

Rome, Italy, Mar 8, 2020 / 01:30 pm (CNA).- The Diocese of Rome has canceled all public Masses until April 3 in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The announcement by the vicar general of the diocese, published Sunday evening, follows a decree by the Italian government suspending all public religious ceremonies.

“The Church of Rome … assumes an attitude of full responsibility towards the community in the awareness that protection from contagion requires even drastic measures, especially in interpersonal contact. Therefore, until the same date of April 3, the communal liturgical celebrations are suspended,” Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, vicar general of Rome, said in a statement March 8.

“The season of Lent helps us to live this great trial evangelically. I bless you by entrusting you all to Our Lady of Divine Love,” the vicar general said.

Priests living in Rome and Vatican City can continue to offer Mass in private. Parishes in Rome will remain open for personal prayer before the tabernacle, the diocese said.

The announcement by the Rome diocese mirrors national action adopted by the Italian bishops’ conference.

The conference also issued a statement March 8 explaining that the Italian government’s decree “suspends civil and religious ceremonies, including funeral ceremonies, throughout the country until Friday, 3 April.”
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-museums-closed-until-april-3-31614

Vatican Museums closed until April 3
By Courtney Mares

Vatican City, Mar 8, 2020 / 09:30 am (CNA).- The Vatican Museums will be closed until April 3 as a precautionary measure to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Italy.

The Holy See Press Office put out a statement March 8 announcing the closure following the Italian government decision to close all movie theaters, concerts, gyms, museums, and archaeological sites  throughout the country.

Museums attached to pontifical basilicas and papal villas in Italy will also close, along with the excavation office that coordinates the Vatican Scavi Tours to St. Peter’s tomb.

The Vatican confirmed that there has only been one positive diagnosis of Covid-19 within Vatican City -- a person who tested positive on March 5 during a pre-employment medical examination in the Vatican Health and Hygiene clinic.

Five people who were in close contact with this person are in a precautionary quarantine, according to the Holy See Press Office.

The Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Dario Franceschini called for more programs to be televised in Italy featuring music, theater, art, and cinema following the “necessary and painful choice” to close down all performances and museums in the country. He also encouraged artists to stream performances on their social networks.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2020-03/pope-live-broadcast-confession-shame-daniel.html

Pope offers live-broadcast Mass for those suffering from coronavirus
09 March 2020, 09:28

On Monday morning, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at Casa Santa Marta which was broadcast live in order to demonstrate his nearness to those affected by the Covid-19 coronavirus.
By Vatican News

Yesterday, the Director of the Holy See Press Office announced that Pope Francis had decided that his 7:00 morning Mass would be broadcast in these days. This morning, Pope Francis introduced the liturgy saying “In these days, I will offer Mass for those who are sick from the coronavirus epidemic, for the doctors, nurses, volunteers who are helping them, for their families, for the elderly in nursing homes, for prisoners”. He then asked everyone to “pray together this week” the words of the entrance antiphon: “Redeem me, O Lord, and have mercy on me. My foot stands on level ground; I will bless the Lord in the assembly”.

The Pope then reflected on the first reading of the Second Monday of Lent from the Book of the Prophet Daniel (9:4-10). He characterized it as a “confession of sin”.

The people recognized that they had sinned. ‘We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws. We have not obeyed your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, and all the people of the land.' This is a confession of sin, a recognition that we have sinned.
 
Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Holy Mass at Casa Santa Marta 2020.03.09
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2020-03/pope-mass-red-white-pharisees-dialogue.html
Pope at Mass: The Lord changes red to white
10 March 2020, 09:45

On Tuesday morning, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at Casa Santa Marta, praying for the sick and encourages priests to “have the courage to visit the sick”. Live Broadcast included.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis introduced Tuesday’s morning liturgy by asking that we pray for “all those who are sick, medical personal, all those suffering from the epidemic”. He asked that we pray particularly for priests so that they might have the courage to visit those who are sick, bringing them “the strength of the Word of God and the Eucharist, to accompany” all those who are assisting those who are afflicted with the coronavirus.

“Yesterday the word of God taught us to recognize our sins and to confess them.” Thus Pope Francis began his homily on Tuesday. “Today,” he continued, “the Lord asks all of us sinners to dialogue with Him”. He then continued his reflection focusing on passage from the Book of Isaiah: “Come now, let us set things right, says the LORD: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow”.
 
YouTube video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Holy Mass at Casa Santa Marta 2020.03.10
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/pope-francis-letter-to-padua-italy-coronavirus.html

Covid-19: Pope writes letter to people in Northern Italy
10 March 2020, 13:47

Pope Francis has written an open letter, published in Padua’s daily newspaper, expressing his prayer and closeness to all those suffering as result of the Covid-19 Coronavirus.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis begins his letter with an apology for what he calls “the informality of the gesture”.

He says that, through Padua’s daily newspaper, his intention is to reach out to the whole city, “to all the Christian communities with their priests and Bishop”. By writing to them, the Pope says he is symbolically writing “to everyone”.

God speaks to us in times of suffering

“The suffering and death that, as in other parts of Italy, you are experiencing because of the coronavirus is for me a reason for prayer and human closeness”, writes Pope Francis.

“It is also the reason for Christian hope”, he continues, because “even in these moments, God is speaking to us”.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-03/vatican-closes-saint-peters-to-combat-covid-19.html

Covid-19: Vatican closes St. Peter’s Basilica to tourists
10 March 2020, 14:59
 
The Vatican announces stricter measures to control the spread of the covid-19 coronavirus, including closing St. Peter’s Basilica and other public services.
By Vatican News

St. Peter’s Basilica and Square will remain closed to tourists and guided tours until 3 April.

The Holy See Press Office announced the closures on Tuesday afternoon in a communique.

As of Tuesday, the Vatican Post Office’s mobile unit in St. Peter’s Square will also be shut down, along with the two sales points of the Vatican Publishing House and the Photographic Service of the Osservatore Romano, which will remain available online.

The Vatican’s mess hall will close its doors to employees as of Wednesday, but is activating a meal delivery service for the various offices of the Holy See and the Vatican City State.

Guests and employees can still access the Vatican pharmacy and supermarket, though entrances will be restricted to avoid crowds forming inside.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/italian-police-close-st-peters-square-to-public-27062
Italian police close St. Peter's Square to public
By Courtney Mares and Hannah Brockhaus

Vatican City, Mar 10, 2020 / 06:29 am (CNA).- The Italian police closed St. Peter’s Square Tuesday following the Italian government decree extending quarantine measures to all of Italy to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The Italian authorities have jurisdiction over the square, which they closed shortly before noon on March 10.

Italian police told CNA the square is closed and no one may enter except for work purposes.

Swiss guards at St. Peter’s Square confirmed to CNA that tourists and pilgrims are not allowed to enter the basilica to pray because if the square is closed the basilica is also “automatically” closed. One said they are waiting for more information.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/via-crucis-meditations-prepared-by-prisoners-in-padua.html

Via Crucis meditations prepared by prisoners in Padua
10 March 2020, 14:35

Pope Francis announces that this year’s meditations for the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on Good Friday have been written by prisoners in the Italian justice system.
By Vatican News

In a letter to the people of the Veneto region of Italy – an area particularly hard hit by the coronavirus epidemic – Pope Francis has shared “a beautiful page of charity”: this year, he has asked prisoners from the “Due Palazzi” penitentiary in Padua to compose the meditations for the Way of the Cross celebrated by the Pope each year on Good Friday.

The Pope said he wanted the meditations to be “a choral work”, with contributions from all “the various faces” of the world of prisons: victims, prisoners, guards, volunteers, families, judges, teachers, the Church, innocent people who at times are unjustly accused”. Prison, the Pope said, “is a kaleidoscope of situations”, where there is a risk of focusing on a single detail, to the detriment of the whole. “The resurrection of a person is never the work of an individual, but of the community working together”.

Pope Francis said he was “moved” when he read the meditations: “I felt very much involved in this story, I felt like a brother who made mistakes, and like those who agree to stand beside them to resume the ascent”.
 

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Update:  Cardinal Pell

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-oceania/2020/03/australias-high-court-to-hear-pell-abuse-appeal-wednesday/
Australia’s High Court to hear Pell abuse appeal Wednesday
Rod McGuirk  Mar 10, 2020
ASSOCIATED PRESS

CANBERRA, Australia - The most senior Catholic to be convicted of child sex abuse will take his appeal to Australia’s highest court on Wednesday in potentially his last bid to clear his name.

Cardinal George Pell was sentenced a year ago to six years in prison for molesting two 13-year-old choirboys in Melbourne’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral while he was the city’s archbishop in the late 1990s.

He was convicted by the unanimous verdict of a Victoria state County Court jury in December 2018 after a jury in an earlier trial was deadlocked.

A Victoria Court of Appeal rejected his appeal against his convictions in a 2-1 majority decision in August last year.

Pope Francis’s 78-year-old former finance minister will argue before the High Court that the guilty verdicts were unreasonable and could not be supported by the whole of the evidence including more than 20 prosecution witnesses including priests, altar servers and former choirboys.

Prosecutors have told the judges in written submissions that it is not their role to determine whether it was open to the jury to find the offence proven beyond reasonable doubt.
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2020-03/pope-santa-marta-prisoners-jeremiah-zebedee-mother.html
Pope offers Mass for the imprisoned
11 March 2020, 09:25

On Wednesday morning, Pope Francis celebrated Mass especially for the imprisoned, praying that the Lord “might console them in their difficult moment”.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis began the sacred liturgy on Wednesday morning remembering the imprisoned. “In a special way I would like to pray for those who are in prison” he prayed, “for our brothers and sisters…. They suffer and we must be near to them with our prayer so that the Lord might console them”. He then reflected on both readings from the liturgy of the day: Jeremiah 18:18-20 and Matthew 20:17-28.

Jeremiah a prophesy of Jesus

Pope Francis opened his homily with an explanation of how the devil tempts us to reject His plan. Like he did with Jeremiah, the devil first places obstacles in our way. Then he becomes malicious. Jeremiah’s experience is also a prophesy “of the Lord’s passion”, the Pope said.

“Let’s place obstacles… The devil doesn’t say, ‘Let’s conquer him’, or ‘Let’s kick him out’. No. ‘Let’s make his life difficult. Torment him’…. It's not only a death sentence. It's more than that. It’s humiliation….”
 
YouTube videio at the link below--
Pope Francis - Holy Mass at Casa Santa Marta 2020.03.11
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/pope-at-audience-every-human-person-has-a-thirst-for-god.html

Pope at Audience: Every human person has a thirst for God
11 March 2020, 12:33

At his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis thanks all those working to respond to the coronavirus emergency . In his catechesis, the Pope explains the fourth beatitude: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied”.
By Christopher Wells

Pope Francis on Wednesday held his first General Audience since sweeping measures were imposed throughout Italy to contain the coronavirus epidemic. The Audience was livestreamed from the Library of the Apostolic Palace, to avoid the large gatherings of people that typically fill St Peter’s Square to hear the Holy Father.

An inner longing for God

In his catechesis, the Holy Father reflected on the fourth beatitude, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied”. The words “hunger and thirst” speak to “crucial, daily needs”; while the term “justice” refers to “a thirst in the heart of human beings, an inner thirst, an inner hunger, an inner restlessness for God”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/pope-offers-heartfelt-thanks-for-efforts-to-combat-coronavirus.html
Pope offers heartfelt thanks for efforts to combat coronavirus
11 March 2020, 14:15

https://zenit.org/articles/full-text-of-popes-march-11-general-audience/
Full Text of Pope’s March 11 General Audience
March 11, 2020 15:13Virginia Forrester

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - General Audience 2020-03-11
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/pope-francis-prayer-our-lady-protection-coronavirus.html

Covid-19: Pope offers prayer to Virgin Mary for protection
11 March 2020, 19:08

Pope Francis composes a prayer to Our Lady, Health of the Sick, to implore her protection during the Covid-19 coronavirus epidemic.
By Devin Watkins

The Pope offered a prayer to the Virgin Mary on Wednesday afternoon, in a video message to mark the Diocese of Rome’s day of prayer and fasting for the coronavirus emergency.

The video was broadcast at the opening of a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, the diocesan vicar, at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love near Rome.

Matteo Bruni, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, said Tuesday that the Pope wanted to entrust the city of Rome, all of Italy, and “the entire world to the protection of the Mother of God, as a sign of salvation and hope” during the ongoing coronavirus emergency.

Steadfast in faith

In his prayer, Pope Francis calls Mary “Health of the Sick”, adding that she kept her faith firm as she stood near the Cross as Jesus suffered.

“You, Salvation of the Roman people, know what we need, and we trust that you will provide for those needs so that – as at Cana of Galilee – joy and celebration may return after this moment of trial.”

The Pope also said we seek refuge under Our Lady’s protection, knowing that she will help us “conform ourselves to the will of the Father”.

Historical precedents

The choice to celebrate Wednesday’s Mass at the Divine Love Sanctuary holds significant historical value.

Pope Pius XII went to pray there before the statue of Our Lady in June 1944.

He pleaded for the salvation of the city of Rome as Nazi troops withdrew from Italy during World War II.

Now, over 75 years later, Pope Francis has asked the Virgin Mary to watch over the world in this current moment of crisis.

An English-language translation of the Pope’s prayer is below:
 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOgmIq3PzpY

From St Peter's Basilica, Angelus prayer and Holy Rosary
Mar 11, 2020

From St Peter's Basilica, the Angelus and Holy Rosary recited by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, Vicar of His Holiness for Vatican City State

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2020-03/pope-rich-man-lazarus-indifference.html
Pope offers Mass for civil authorities
12 March 2020, 11:34

Civil authorities were the subject of Pope Francis’ prayer on Thursday morning during Mass at the Casa Santa Marta.
By Vatican News

“We pray for those who govern, who must make decisions regarding the measures” to be taken to contain the Covid-19 coronavirus. May they “feel accompanied by the prayer of the people”, Pope Francis said at the beginning of the sacred liturgy he celebrated on Thursday at Casa Santa Marta. “Many times they make decisions that people don't like but it's for our good”.

The Pope then turned to the Gospel of the day from the Gospel of Luke (16:19-31) during his homily.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-03/coronavirus-vatican-dicasteries-to-remain-open.html

Coronavirus: Vatican Dicasteries to remain open
12 March 2020, 16:35

The Holy See Press Office has announced that Vatican offices will remain open in order “to ensure the essential services to the Universal Church”, while at the same time implementing the health measures necessary to avoid the spread of the new coronavirus, Covid-19.

Statement of the Holy See Press Office

This morning, in the Old Synod Hall, an extraordinary inter-dicastery meeting took place, chaired by His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, in the presence of all the leaders of the Roman Curia.

The aim of the meeting was the coordination of the functions of the dicasteries and the deliberations regarding staff in the context of the measures taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
 

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PDF link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-03/osservatore-romano-pdf-english-weekly-edition.html

L'OSSERVATORE ROMANO
12 March 2020, 14:38

WEEKLY EDITION IN ENGLISH

Friday, 13 March 2020: download PDF

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Update:  Cardinal Pell

https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/cardinal-pell-ruling-deferred-possible-decision-next-week

Mar. 12, 2020
Cardinal Pell Ruling Deferred, Supporters Hopeful

A seven-member panel of justices decided March 12 they would need more time to consider whether to acquit the Australian cardinal or uphold his conviction.
Edward Pentin

Legal experts and supporters of Cardinal George Pell are quietly confident he could be acquitted soon and possibly as early as next week after Australia’s highest court deferred ruling on an appeal to overturn his conviction.

After two days of hearings in the Australian capital city of Canberra, a seven-member panel of justices decided March 12 they would take more time to consider whether to allow the appeal which is the cardinal’s last chance to clear his name.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/the-7th-anniversary-of-the-pope-who-accompanies-us.html

The 7th anniversary of the Pope who accompanies us
13 March 2020, 11:43

The 7th anniversary of Pope Francis’ pontificate comes in the midst of the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis.
By Andrea Tornielli

As Pope Francis begins the eighth year of his pontificate, humanity faces the dramatic challenge of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The powerful and universal invitation to keep focused on what is essential, means this anniversary is being celebrated differently than in previous years. As we all confront the precariousness of our existence at this difficult time, Pope Francis has chosen to accompany us with prayer, entrusting all to Mary, and celebrating daily Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. Complete with English translation, this Mass is broadcast live throughout the world every morning.
 

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https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2020/03/rome-reopens-churches-after-pope-cautions-against-taking-drastic-measures/

Rome reopens churches after pope cautions against taking ‘drastic measures’
Elise Ann Allen  Mar 13, 2020

ROME - Less than 24 hours after the Diocese of Rome issued a decree closing all churches to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, officials walked that decision back, saying the about-face came out of a meeting with Pope Francis.

In a March 13 letter, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Vicar of Rome, said he had a meeting with the pontiff Friday morning, and that during the conversation, Francis urged him to look beyond the immediate healthcare precautions.

“He prompted us to consider another need: That with the closure of our churches, other ‘little ones’, this time of a different type, will not find a reason for confusion and disorientation,” De Donatis said, adding that the risk of closing churches is “for people is to feel even more isolated.”

In light of his conversation with the pope, De Donatis ordered that only parish churches and those serving as the headquarters for missions be left open. He also encouraged priests to properly discern how to best to help their communities.