Pope leaves Vatican, prays for end to pandemic at 2 churches

Even as Italian health authorities demanded that people to stay home as much as possible to battle the country's severe coronavirus outbreak, Pope Francis left the Vatican to make a surprise visit to two churches.

The Vatican says the pope's trip included a brief stroll Sunday on a main Rome street to pray for the end of the coronavirus pandemic. The pope did a stretch of the street "as of on a pilgrimage," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

Francis prayed in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, then went to a church which has a crucifix carried in a 1522 procession in Rome when the city was stricken with plague.

The Vatican's Holy Week ceremonies will go ahead but without public attendance as Italy tries to contain the coronavirus outbreak, the Holy See said Sunday.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement that as far as Holy Week liturgical celebrations are concerned, I can specify that all are confirmed.

But Bruni added: As things stand, under study are the ways they would be carried out and who would participate while respecting the security measures put in place to avoid spread of the coronavirus. He added that in any case, faithful will be able to follow the ceremonies on TV, radio and through online media.

The Vatican announces that #PopeFrancis' Holy Week liturgical celebrations will take place without the physical presence of the faithful, in an attempt to contain the spread of the Covid-19 #coronavirus, the Holy See's media arm tweeted.

In an elaboration, Vatican media added that the office of the papal household was informing people that "until April 12 the General Audiences and the Angelus presided over by the Holy Father will be available only in live streaming on the official Vatican News website.