Some of Rome’s Catholic churches reopened Friday after Pope Francis voiced displeasure with the Italian authorities’ push to shut them because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Rome diocese lists slightly over 1,000 churches — about 900 of them Catholic ones. Vicar Angelo De Donatis said he ultimately decided that closing churches “will sow confusion” among the faithful and see some “feel even more isolated”. “Dear priests, we rely on your wise discernment,” the Rome vicar wrote. Image: AFP/File / Alberto PIZZOLI Under draconian anti-virus measures, the Vatican has been forced to close churches in Rome

Source: Egypt Independent March 14, 2020 13:41 UTC