In anticipation of opening Rome's churches for celebration of public Masses, the Italian army and city sanitation authorities are sanitizing the sacred spaces in order to keep the public safe.

The French bishops' conference has encouraged the faithful to "go to church to pray alone" and urged dioceses and parishes to attend to their people's faith life.

The Italian bishops' conference are trying to find ways to provide needed care and programs for children and adolescents during the pandemic.

Much about the pope, his life and work has been gathered over the course of his sainthood cause, which Pope Francis furthered in 2017 with the recognition that Pope John Paul lived the Christian virtues in a heroic way.

Pontifical Salesian University, which has been conducting classes online since March 5, houses some 280 members of six religious orders.

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.

At the start of the live broadcast of Mass, the pope first prayed that people would use the pandemic-induced time of increased silence in their lives to learn how to listen.

In his homily during morning Mass in the chapel of his residence, Pope Francis warned against "detachment" from the sacraments, the church, and each other, saying that it was "dangerous."

In other circumstances, however, the current crisis is the result of abandonment "from afar" when it comes to not providing enough assistance and therapeutic care for the elderly, the dicastery added.

Pope Saint John Paul II is remembered for his tireless evangelization on the 15th anniversary of his death.