The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way Palm Sunday is celebrated in Jerusalem, with surgical masks, social distancing, and livestreaming services.

The Vatican explained that these adjustments are due to “the extraordinary situation” caused by the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Holy Saturday, thousands of catechumens and candidates in the United States will join the Catholic Church.

Public gatherings, including Masses, have been banned in Italy through April 3, two days before Palm Sunday.

While public gatherings, including Masses, have been banned in Italy through April 3, Holy Week begins with the Palm Sunday liturgy April 5, so the notification from the Prefecture of the Papal Household was read as a sign that the ban would be extended, at least at the Vatican.

God is continually inviting us to growth and continually enabling us to let some things in our life die so that we can experience new life.