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Pope Francis to Lead Christians in Worldwide COVID Prayer Service

VOA News

   The Vatican isinvitingChristians around the world to join PopeFrancis
   inprayeragainst the coronavirus pandemic assomeworkersin Vatican
   Citycomplain they are being discouraged from working from home.

   A church tweet says Francis will conduct his prayer service Wednesday
   at 1100 UTC.

   Vatican officialshaveconfirmed at least fourcoronaviruscasesso far.

   Although the church has said it is encouraging peopleTOworkfromwhat it
   calls "remote locations," theAssociated Press reports thatworkers
   inthree different Vatican offices complaintheyhave been told to show up
   in personfrom two to five days a week.

   The offices include one that is said to
   handlesensitivechurchmattersfromwhichofficials fear documentscould
   disappear if the office is short-staffed.

   Another office, the so-called Propaganda Office, oversees the church's
   work in developing countries.

   "The whole of Italy closes down but not so the Vatican, at least not
   Propaganda Fide," one commuter's wife posted on Facebook. "It is
   dangerous, moving between cities, trains, metro and buses. I cannot
   believe that this is actually happening!"

   Whilechurchofficials have yet to respond to suchgrievances, they again
   said thatwhileVaticanoffices will stay open,departmentheadsshould make
   sure "essentialservices" are carried out withminimalstaff
   while"incentivizing as much as possible remote working."

   PopeFrancissays he feels like he's living in a "cage,"avoidingcontact
   with thefaithfuland conductingvideo services instead of greeting
   pilgrims at St. Peter's Square.

   Some Catholic churches around the worldstillremainopendespitethe risks
   posed bycongregationsgatheringinclose contact during the coronavirus
   pandemic.

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