(Bloomberg) -- Pope Francis has joined Italy’s efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, taking to video streaming to address the faithful as the Vatican closed its world-renowned museums.
Francis’s comments to mark the end of the weekly Angelus devotion were broadcast by live streaming from a library inside the Vatican on Sunday. However, the pontiff did make a personal appearance, blessing the people gathered in St. Peter’s Square from the window he uses for regular sermons.
“I am close with prayer to people suffering from the current coronavirus epidemic and to all those who care for them,” Francis, 83, said in the broadcast.
The virtual blessing came after a case of coronavirus was confirmed inside the Vatican, a tiny city-state a fraction of the size of New York’s Central Park that’s located in central Rome. It’s home to both Pope Francis and “emeritus” Pope Benedict XVI, 92. The Vatican Museums and other public siteswere closed on Sunday after the Italian government’ announced a sweeping decree to try to contain the spread of the virus in Europe’s most-infected country.
The Museums, which include the Sistine Chapel, attract millions of visitors a year and will remain closed until April 3. In Italy, other star attractions such as the ruins of ancient Pompeii near Naples and a Rome exhibit of the renaissance master Raphael will also remain shut.
Pope Francis, who was tested for the virus earlier this month after developing a cold, had already been limiting his public appearances. Further masses celebrated privately in Santa Marta, the hotel for clergy where Francis lives, in the following days will also be broadcast live.
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