The medical and humanitarian emergency unfolding before their eyes has made it clear that the Western health care system of centralized hospital care cannot handle this and future epidemics and needs to shift toward more community-focused care.

Pope Francis prayed for families who are cooped up in their homes and for all those who are ill with COVID-19.

The Church of All Saints in Bergamo -- located in a cemetery in Italy's hardest-hit Lombardy region -- has had to open its doors to dozens of coffins containing the remains of people who died of COVID-19.

Pope Francis asked people to pray for government officials and leaders who are tasked with making critical decisions and taking drastic measures that may make people unhappy.

Due to coronavirus precautions, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at his residence without people who normally attend it.

Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna of Malta, adjunct secretary of the doctrinal congregation, will be accompanied by Spanish Father Jordi Bertomeu Farnos, a congregation official, on a visit to Mexico City March 20-27.

It took more than 12 years to sort through, organize and catalogue the enormous quantity of information from Pope Pius XII's long pontificate. The open collection also includes thousands of notes regarding Pope Pius' charitable activity in Italy and abroad.

Lent is a time to remove all distractions and bitterness from one's life in order to better hear God and those who suffer silently and need help, Pope Francis said.

The Pontifical Academy for Life is invited tech leaders to help frame ethical guidelines for artificial intelligence, know as "AI."

The theme of the pope's message, "We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God," was taken from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (5:20), which reflects the invitation to return to God through constant conversion and reconciliation, and experience new life in Christ.