VATICAN (CNS): With the number of priests and religious dying from coronavirus-related illnesses rising, Pope Francis offered his prayers for those who died after being infected helping Covid-19 patients and their communities.
At the start of his morning Mass on March 24, the pope said he was aware of the growing number of doctors, nurses and priests who have died after becoming infected while serving the sick.
“Let us pray for them and their families. I thank God for the heroic example that they have given us in their care for the sick,” he said.
In Italy alone, at least 50 priests, four nuns and at least 24 doctors have lost their lives and 5,000 health care workers were known to be infected as of March 24 because of the pandemic.
The newspaper of the Italian bishops’ conference, Avvenire, has a special section online paying tribute to the many deceased priests, with photographs and biographical details, using the hashtags #pretipersempre or #PriestsForever.
