Vatican News

Pontifical Academy of Life assembly attendee tested positive for coronavirus

Vatican City, Mar 10, 2020 / 03:19 pm (CNA).- The Pontifical Academy of Life said Tuesday that only one attendee of a Vatican conference held in Rome ten days ago has tested positive for COVID-19.

“We confirm that this is a single registered case, and is on the way to recovery,” the Pontifical Academy of Life stated March 10.

Italian police close St. Peter's Square to public

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.

Pope urges priests to bring Eucharist to sick during Italy coronavirus quarantine

Vatican City, Mar 10, 2020 / 03:31 am (CNA).- At his morning Mass Tuesday, Pope Francis urged priests to bring the Eucharist to the sick and to accompany medical workers, as Italy begins its first day of a nationwide quarantine.

“We continue to pray together for the sick and for health workers, so many people that suffer from this epidemic,” the pope said at the beginning of Mass March 10.

Pope Francis' morning Mass livestreamed this week

Vatican City, Mar 9, 2020 / 05:18 am (CNA).- Pope Francis’ daily morning Mass, offered in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where he lives, is being livestreamed this week so people from around the world may join in prayer for those sick with coronavirus.

The livestream this week is “to allow those who wish to follow the celebrations in union of prayer with the Bishop of Rome,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

Make Syria ‘priority’ over ‘every other interest’ says Pope Francis

Vatican City, Mar 8, 2020 / 12:00 pm (CNA).- Pope Francis issued a plea to the international community to halt the violence and mounting death toll in the Syrian civil war, now in its ninth year.

Speaking on Sunday during the recitation of the Angelus, the pope said that he had “great apprehension for the inhumane situation of these defenseless people, among whom so many are children whose lives are at risk.”

Vatican Museums closed until April 3

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.

Pope Francis: Be strong in faith amid coronavirus trial

Vatican City, Mar 8, 2020 / 07:30 am (CNA).- In a video streamed live to St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis prayed for those suffering from the "coronavirus epidemic" and encouraged Catholics to live through this trial with the strength of faith.

“I join my brother bishops in encouraging the faithful to live this difficult moment with the strength of faith, the certainty of hope and the fervor of charity,” Pope Francis said March 8.

What Catholic clergy and laity have in common: a Gospel mission  

South Bend, Ind., Mar 7, 2020 / 12:00 pm (CNA).- Catholic clergy and laity have a shared responsibility to proclaim the Gospel, speakers at a conference sponsored by the University of Notre Dame have said.
 
“We’re all in the same boat. We’re all here to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, that is, to bring salvation, God’s salvation to the world, so that’s what I want to share with you,” Bishop Bill Wack, C.S.C. of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida said March 6.
 

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