On Sunday, Pope Francis called for universal unity in response to the coronavirus pandemic as he and Christians around the world observed Easter’s joy in increasingly isolated and bleak conditions as a result of bans on public gatherings.
With most churches closed to mass gatherings and police checkpoints formed in Europe to impose the prohibitions, families who would usually attend morning church services wearing their Easter best and then join friends and relatives for traditional meals stayed home.
In his speech, Francis encouraged world leaders to bring hope and opportunities to the millions of people who have been left suddenly unemployed by the global crisis. In particular, he called on the European Union to address the “epochal challenge” raised by the pandemic, which has devastated Italy, Spain, and other European countries.
People cut off from their communities of faith, and loved ones were given the option of viewing Easter celebrations on TV or online.
Francis said in his televised speech:
“After the Second World War, this beloved continent was able to rise again, thanks to a concrete spirit of solidarity that enabled it to overcome the rivalries of the past,”
“This is not a time for self-centeredness because the challenge we are facing is shared by all, without distinguishing between persons.”
Francis urged the faithful to pray individually for the sick, the dead, and the elderly.
The Panthera Post 