“We cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities and yet still try to profess to respect every human life,” the bishops said. “We serve a God of love, mercy, and justice.”

"Until we take the human dignity of each and every person—regardless of the circumstances of their lives—serious(ly), there will continue to be a loss of life due to racism," Bishop Shelton T. Fabre said.

The coronavirus pandemic has greatly affected the nation's economic health, leading some to wonder how it can be dealt with.

The Catholic peace organization said it stands "in solidarity with our siblings in Minneapolis who are protesting white supremacy with their voices and their bodies, and we recommit ourselves to working to dismantle systemic racism in all its forms."

The closure of the museums dealt a major financial blow to the Vatican; more than 6 million people visit the museums each year, generating an income of more than $100 million.

For the first time in over two months, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem reopens, despite the uncertainty some people still have about the effects of the pandemic on public health and the local economy.