The pandemic is hitting all communities hard, especially religious ones, like Maryknoll, in Ossining, New York, with members becoming ill and dying.

The government of the federal state of Berlin has permitted church services with up to 50 participants from May 4 provided that hygiene and social distancing requirements are observed.

Earth Day was created in 1970 by Democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin.

In April, as Italy and the Vatican moved toward their seventh week in lockdown, Catholic News Service asked several people for their "post-pandemic resolutions."

The pope dedicated his catechesis April 22 to a reflection on the human and Christian responsibility to care for the Earth, humanity’s common home.

The fund will operate "thanks to the active collaboration of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) and the Pontifical Mission for Palestine," the statement said.