Stressing that nurses deserve to be more fully valued and their working conditions improved, Pope Francis said the pandemic had brought to light healthcare deficiencies in some countries.

Believers of all religions and people of goodwill have been invited to implore the divine to help humanity in overcoming the pandemic caused by Coronavirus.

The experiences of Catholic charities and clergy reflect a growing body of evidence that BAME and Gypsy, Roma, Travellers (GRT) communities are being harmed particularly by this pandemic – Bishop McAleenan.

Archbishop Eamon Martin has told Leaving Cert and A Level students that the Covid-19 emergency has "gatecrashed what is such an important and special year in your lives, and it has left you wondering: what happens next?”

May: Deacons

In a new biography, 'Benedict XVI: A Life', the retired pope rejects accusations of interfering in church debates since his resignation in 2013, claiming this is a “malicious distortion of the truth.”

Speaking in St John's Cathedral, the Bishop of Limerick said the restrictions over these past weeks have taught people that "time is something we can’t control. Time is a gift.”

April: Liberation from addictions

“Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely resume its normal course,” prays Pope Francis.

I am very encouraged that global use of the death penalty has decreased for another year. However, hundreds of people are still being executed by their governments and in some countries, the number has increased dramatically – Bishop Declan Lang.

Let us not lose the opportunity to give further proof of solidarity ... The only alternative is the selfishness of particular interests and the temptation of a return to the past.

Pontiff pays tribute to the “saints who live next door” describing the doctors, volunteers, religious sisters, priests and shop workers who continue to perform their duty as “heroes”.

People are praying more at home, which has become, as at the beginning of Christianity, the “domestic Church”.

“This action, which is not taken lightly, is ... the only way of guaranteeing that vulnerable people, who might be so inclined to call into the church to pray or light a candle, are more encouraged to stay at home and keep within the regulations” – Bishop Nulty.

Bishop Leahy pays tribute to the Limerick COVID-19 Community Response which is ensuring that the daily needs of the elderly, unwell or those with a confirmed diagnosis or those isolating on suspicion of having COVID-19 are met.

"Just like those disciples, we too have realised that we cannot go on thinking of ourselves, but only together can we do this," said Pope Francis.

Pope Francis’ blessing will be an opportunity to avail ourselves of Divine Grace. I encourage everyone to watch this special broadcast – Archbishop Eamon Martin.

Bishop Brendan Leahy and his Church of Ireland counterpart Bishop Kenneth Kearon will participate in the ecumenical prayer live on webcam from Mount Saint Alphonsus in Limerick city at 11am today.

“Social distancing cannot be allowed to create social isolation and, through prayer, as Pope Francis said on Sunday, we can overcome,” said Archbishop Eamon Martin.

“I would like to propose to all Christians that, together, we lift our voices towards Heaven,” said the pope, who will start saying the ‘Our Father’ in Rome on Wednesday at 10am Irish time. 

The Easter ceremonies will take place in Rome but it is still uncertain how these celebrations will be conducted and who will participate in them, as this is currently under review and evolving.

Archbishop Eamon Martin supports Bishop Phonsie Cullinan’s initiative which aims to encourage people to care for one other "at this difficult time.”

Irish bishops welcomed the recent announcement by Pope Francis that the theme of the synod in October 2022 will be “For a synodal Church: communion, participation, and mission”.

Catholics in China

The Church of the Nativity and other places of worship in Bethlehem are shut, all tourism and religious sites across the West Bank are closed and all tourists banned from the West Bank for an unspecified period.

“Live this difficult moment with the strength of the faith, the certainty of hope and the ardour of charity,” said the pope in a message to all those affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

There are over 300 million people in the world suffering from over 6000 identified rare diseases – European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS).

“What kind of world do we want to leave to those who will come after us, to children who are growing up?" the Pontiff asks in a video message.

Bishop Leahy says that by focusing on Lent in terms of ecological conversion, we are taking steps that benefit not just ourselves and society but we are building up our community for the future.

“The idea is that we equip parishes to bring Laudato Si' to life in local parish communities,” says Jane Mellett of Trócaire.