Vatican City, Mar 8, 2020 / 06:30 am
In a video streamed live to St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis prayed for those suffering from the "coronavirus epidemic" and encouraged Catholics to live through this trial with the strength of faith.
"I join my brother bishops in encouraging the faithful to live this difficult moment with the strength of faith, the certainty of hope and the fervor of charity," Pope Francis said March 8.
"The season of Lent helps us all to give an evangelical sense also to this moment of trial and pain," he added.
The pope led the Sunday Angelus prayer via video filmed in the library of the Apostolic Palace in response to ongoing concerns about the spread of coronavirus in Italy and Vatican City. Traditionally, the pope leads the Angelus from the palace balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square.