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March 9, 2020

Catholic Church in Rome cancels all Masses, announces day of fasting and prayer

Sunday's announcement follows a decree by the Italian government suspending all public religious services, as the nation copes with over 7,300 confirmed cases and at least 366 deaths.

March 8, 2020

Pope Francis gives Sunday prayer via livestream after 16 million placed under quarantine in northern Italy

Pope Francis delivered his Sunday blessing via video to prevent crowds from gathering in Vatican City as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus.The Pope gave the address via livestream from a library inside the Vatican at noon local time -- just hours after about 16 million people in northern Italy were placed under a sweeping quarantine in the European country most heavily hit by COVID-19.

March 6, 2020

First coronavirus case confirmed at Vatican: report

A patient in its health services tested positive for the viral illness.

March 3, 2020

Fist-bumping with no holy water: How churches respond to coronavirus

With the global outbreak of the coronavirus, churches and houses of worship are doing all they can to protect their flock.

March 3, 2020

Pope Francis tests negative for coronavirus after catching cold: report

The Italian newspaper Il Messaggero reported that Pope Francis was tested for coronavirus after falling ill, but that he simply had a cold.

March 1, 2020

Pope Francis cancels audiences for 3rd day with apparent cold

Pope Francis canceled official engagements for the third day in a row Saturday as he battled an apparent cold.

February 28, 2020

Pope Francis sick a 2nd day, cancels official audiences

Pope Francis canceled his official audiences Friday after apparently coming down with a cold.

February 26, 2020

Pope celebrates Ash Wednesday at Vatican as Masses in Italy canceled over coronavirus fears

Pope Francis is celebrating Ash Wednesday as usual -- even though other Masses in Italy were canceled due to fears of the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

February 19, 2020

Pope Francis receives kiss on forehead from front-row admirer

Pope Francis on Wednesday allowed a man to give him a long tender kiss on the forehead, a move that surprised observers after his angry reaction to a woman who violently grabbed his hand while he was greeting pilgrims at the Vatican on New Year’s Eve.

February 14, 2020

Brazil’s president blasts Pope Francis on Amazon climate change: He ‘may be Argentinean but God is Brazilian’

Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro, who embraces his comparison to President Trump, blasted Pope Francis for his plea to protect the Amazon from climate change.