Vatican City, Jun 11, 2020 / 08:50 am (CNA).- In a phone call Wednesday, Pope Francis told an archbishop in Brazil that he is praying for the country, which has become the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in Latin America.

According to Archbishop Orlando Brandes of Aparecida, Pope Francis called him June 10 and said “I am always near to you, as my heart reaches out to all Brazilians,” Vatican News reported.