By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican office that distributes free tickets to papal events has posted a notice on its website that "the liturgical celebrations of Holy Week will take place without the physical presence of the faithful." While public gatherings, including Masses, have been banned in …

By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Mar 14, 2020 / 04:56 pm (CNA).- Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis’ liturgies for Holy Week and Easter, which usually include the presence of thousands of people, will be held without public attendance this year. According to an online notice from the Prefecture …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Eloisa Lopez, Reuters By WASHINGTON (CNS) — In an effort to stem the pandemic of COVID-19, bishops’ conferences and dioceses around the world began suspending public Masses. The measures were designed to "flatten the curve," an effort to ease the burden on the health care system so treatment …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Victor Aleman, Angelus News By WASHINGTON (CNS) — Acknowledging the fragility of human life because of the coronavirus, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, shared a prayer for people who are ill with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Junno Arocho Esteves By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, papal vicar of Rome, said he spoke to Pope Francis March 12 before ordering the closure of all churches in Rome because of the coronavirus pandemic; the next day, he said he spoke to the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Sergio Agazzi, IPA/ABACAPRESS.COM via Reuters By Carol Glatz ROME (CNS) — In a nation where the faithful are not allowed to assemble for Mass, one church in northern Italy is full. The Church of All Saints in Bergamo — located in a cemetery in Italy’s hardest-hit Lombardy region …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — President Donald Trump may be as divisive to religionists as he seems to be to other groups in American society, as indicated by the latest Pew Research Center survey. "We’re seeing a big divide between white Christian and minority Christians …

IMAGE: CNS graphic/Lucy Barco, The Catholic Register By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — Acknowledging how difficult it can be to adapt to restrictive measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, Pope Francis told people watching his morning Mass March 12 that it was for "our own good." After …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis asked people to pray for government officials and leaders who are tasked with making critical decisions and taking drastic measures that may make people unhappy. Each day at his livestreamed morning Mass, the pope has been dedicating …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While the coronavirus pandemic gripping the world highlights the frailty of human life, it is also an opportunity for people to unite in solidarity, a Vatican official said. "For each person, believer or nonbeliever, this is a good …