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Pope Francis is seen in a window greeting a few nuns standing in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 22, 2020, after reciting his weekly Angelus prayer from the library of the Apostolic Palace. The pope announced he will give an extraordinary blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) at 6 p.m. Rome time March 27 in an "empty" St. Peter's Square because all of Italy is on lockdown to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.

Pope Francis announces extraordinary 'urbi et orbi' blessing March 27

VATICAN CITY -- In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis said he will give an extraordinary blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) at 6 p.m. Rome time March 27.

Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 21, 2019.

Vatican says Holy Week liturgies must proceed even if pews are empty

VATICAN CITY -- Despite the COVID-19 pandemic that is causing public Mass cancellations worldwide, the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter can not be postponed or suspended, said the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

The dome of St. Peter's Basilica is pictured at the Vatican.

Vatican says general absolution may be permissible during pandemic

VATICAN CITY -- In places particularly hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic and with severe limits on people leaving their homes, conditions may exist to grant general absolution without people personally confessing their sins first, the Vatican said.

Men in Bergamo, Italy, transport a coffin of a person who died from the coronavirus disease in this photo shot March 16, 2020. A number of priests and religious women have been among the nearly 2,000 people who have died in Italy because of illness connected with COVID-19.

Pope Francis prays for coronavirus victims, workers who died serving others

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis asked people to pray for all victims of COVID-19, including the health care workers who sacrificed their lives caring for others.

Pope Francis leads the opening of the 91st judicial year of the Vatican City state court during an audience in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Feb. 15, 2020. In mid-March Pope Francis updated the norms governing the Vatican City State judiciary system.

Pope Francis updates Vatican City State judicial system

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis updated the laws that govern the Vatican judicial system in an effort to establish greater transparency and independence, particularly in financial and criminal matters.

Pope Francis prays in front of a crucifix at the Church of St. Marcellus in Rome March 15, 2020. The crucifix was carried through Rome in 1522 during the "Great Plague." The pope prayed as coronavirus deaths in Italy peaked at 368 in a 24-hour period, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,809 out of 24,747 cases.

Pope Francis makes mini-pilgrimage outside Vatican to pray for end of pandemic

ROME -- With Italy on lockdown and Rome streets almost deserted, Pope Francis left the Vatican March 15 in a mini-pilgrimage to an icon and to a crucifix associated with miraculous interventions to save the city and its people.

An empty St. Peter's Square is seen at the Vatican March 12, 2020.

Vatican says public will not be admitted to papal Holy Week liturgies

VATICAN CITY -- 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."

More than 1,800 people attended the Ordinandi Dinner at the Pearson Convention Centre March 3.

Big graduating class brings big numbers

The Serra Club’s 2020 Ordinandi Dinner on March 3 was the biggest ever, celebrating the biggest St. Augustine’s Seminary graduating class in recent memory.

Pope Francis is pictured on a video monitor in St. Peter's Square as he leads the Angelus from his library in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican March 8, 2020. As a precaution to avoid spread of the coronavirus, the pope's Sunday Angelus was broadcast on television and displayed on monitors in St. Peter's Square. After leading the Angelus through video the pope said he wanted to see the crowd in "real time" and came to the window of his studio to greet people in the square.

After leading 'virtual' Angelus, pope blesses crowd in St. Peter's Square

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis did not recite the Sunday Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square March 8, but he did go to the window to wave and to bless the pilgrims who showed up anyway.

French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon pauses at the courthouse in Lyon Jan. 7, 2019. Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal Barbarin March 6, 2020, less than six weeks after a French appeals court overturned his conviction for failing to report clerical sexual abuse.

French cardinal Barbarin resigns following overturned abuse conviction

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon, five weeks after a French appeals court overturned his conviction for failing to report clerical sexual abuse.

Fr. Hans Zollner

Abuse rules ordered for lay movements

VATICAN CITY -- Days after revelations of sexual abuse committed by Jean Vanier, a Vatican abuse expert said organizations led by a charismatic leader who is followed uncritically and commands or demands control over members are at risk for cases of physical, sexual and psychological abuse.

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