Pope Francis today urged Catholic priests to visit people suffering from coronavirus despite a ban on most travel across Italy.
Francis prayed that clergymen would ‘have the courage to go out and go to the sick people’ as he celebrated Mass by himself at the Vatican this morning.
The service in the chapel of Francis’ residence was live-streamed by the Vatican today, with the 83-year-old pontiff avoiding public gatherings.
Italy has imposed tough new quarantine rules nationwide, including a ban on most travel, but there are limited exceptions for ‘urgent’ work and health reasons.
‘Let us pray to the Lord also for our priests, that they may have the courage to go out and go to the sick people bringing the strength of God’s word and the Eucharist and accompany the health workers and volunteers in this work that they are doing,’ Francis said.
His service today, held in the chapel of the Santa Marta guest house where he lives, came just hours after Italy extended its quarantine measures to the whole country.
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