The Pope says he has asked God to stop the coronavirus epidemic

The Pope says he has asked God to stop the coronavirus epidemic and says people should use quarantine to reconnect with their families Pope Francis said people should use time in quarantine to reconnect with family  The Pope added that he had asked God to stop coronavirus ‘with his hand’   It comes as Italy is … Read more

Pope Francis walks through Rome’s deserted streets amid coronavirus lockdown

Pope Francis defied Italian government advice to stay indoors and today walked to church through Rome’s deserted streets to pray for the end of coronavirus. The Catholic leader had earlier delivered a blessing from his balcony window above an eerily empty St Peter’s Square, which has been closed to worshippers as part of the country’s … Read more

Priests keep their distance from Pope Francis amid coronavirus lockdown

Catholic priests kept their distance from Pope Francis over coronavirus fears today as Italy’s 3ft safety rule reached the Vatican. Francis held an audience in his private library with his clerical translators sitting a yard apart – the distance which Italy is demanding in public spaces to stop the spread of the virus.  St Peter’s … Read more

Pope delivers Sunday prayers via livestream as Italy is put into lockdown amid coronavirus crisis

Pope delivers Sunday prayers via livestream as Italy is put into lockdown after 36 people die in a single day – bringing the toll to 233 The 83-year-old pontiff broke with centuries of tradition to live stream prayers Wanted to prevent crowds going to Saint Peter’s Square for Angelus Prayer Coronavirus infections in Italy has … Read more

Pope Francis will deliver Sunday prayers by livestream to keep crowds away from Saint Peter’s Square

Pope Francis will deliver Sunday prayers by livestream to keep crowds away from Saint Peter’s Square as Italy battles coronavirus The 83-year-old pontiff broke with centuries of tradition to live stream prayers Wants to prevent crowds going to Saint Peter’s Square for Angelus Prayer Coronavirus infections in Italy has jumped to 4,636, with 148 dead   … Read more

Pope Francis cancels official engagements for third day in a row in coronavirus-hit Italy 

Pope Francis cancels official engagements for third day in a row with apparent cold symptoms in coronavirus-hit Italy The 83-year-old as never cancelled so many official audiences during his papacy Francis last appeared in public on Wednesday, when he was seen to be coughing It comes as coronavirus has now infected more than 800 people … Read more

Pope Francis is ‘slightly unwell’ and cancels public appointments

Pope Francis is still feeling ‘slightly unwell’ and has cancelled his official audiences today, the Vatican has said.  The 83-year-old pontiff has scrapped an audience with tech chiefs including Microsoft and IBM executives today – a day after calling off an appearance at a Mass in Rome.  Francis had appeared to have a cold during … Read more

Pope says to give up TROLLING people on social media for Lent

Pope says to give up TROLLING people on social media for Lent Pope Francis said ‘verbal violence’ was being ‘amplified by the internet’ He said Lent was a time to ‘give up useless words, gossip, rumours, tittle-tattle’ The Pope himself has been targeted by trolls on social media like Twitter  By James Mills for MailOnline … Read more

The Pope praises coronavirus health and expresses his ‘closeness’ to patients

The Pope praises coronavirus health and expresses his ‘closeness’ to patients before shaking hand with tens of the congregation at his weekly audience Pope Francis praised those working to battle virus in Italy, which has 374 cases  The Pope expressed his ‘closeness’ to patients as he kissed people in the crowds Only a few of the 12,000 faithful … Read more