"The most important aspect is to offer the Eucharist to the faithful once again, as they have been fasting for over 10 weeks now," he said.
Fr. Apparcel recorded a video on Facebook for his parishioners explaining the parish's new protocols, which include social distancing and face mask requirements, no hymnals, and reception of Communion only on the hand.
He told CNA: "Some of our parishioners, however, are not yet comfortable in coming to Church, and have told me how much they appreciate our virtual Masses. They hope that we will continue to do this, which we will try to do throughout the summer, and beyond if necessary."
"We also have many, many people participating in these Masses from the U.S. and other countries where public Masses are not yet available. And, also from many people who are homebound for many other reasons. It has opened up a new ministry that we never thought we needed to do," he added.
According to the Italian health ministry, there are 3,910 current cases of COVID-19 in Lazio, the region in which Rome is located. However, many people took to the streets as shops, restaurants, and beauty salons reopened for the first time in months.
Some coffee shops and restaurants erected makeshift social distancing barriers between tables. Romans reveled in being able to drink their espressos and cappuccinos inside the coffee bar, rather than as takeout in a styrofoam cup as had been the protocol for the previous two weeks.
Steele said that her family was looking forward to being able to visit museums and archeological sites again this month in much less crowded Rome.
"The boys are thrilled that they can order a cone of gelato now and us parents that we can sit down for a cappuccino. We are excited to go to a restaurant together soon -- first time in 2.5 months," she said.
Religious communities in Rome are also loosening prior restrictions as Italy lifts its lockdown.
"In our monastery, most of our self-imposed restrictions on movement will be removed and we will again be able to visit churches, our professors, and go to confession outside the monastery. Before we were allowed to go out only during the early morning for exercise, but now we will be able to move around more freely," Fr. Hudson said.
The prior of St. Anselm Abbey in Rome has called all of its residents to exercise individual responsibility, asking the priests to avoid crowded places, public transportation, and restaurants.
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"We will probably become even more cautious at home, because of the new possibilities of being exposed to the virus, but in all, we are pretty confident that things are improving little by little," Hudson said.
"Italy is emerging from a very difficult period in its history. As nothing can cancel life and all the essential events surrounding it, so nothing can cancel the religious needs proper to humanity. Marriage, baptisms, forgiveness of sins, and communion with Our Blessed Lord are as needful for the soul as ordinary nourishment and communion is for the body," the priest said.
Courtney Mares is a Rome Correspondent for Catholic News Agency. A graduate of Harvard University, she has reported from news bureaus on three continents and was awarded the Gardner Fellowship for her work with North Korean refugees.