Worst Of Virus Is Over – Pope Francis

Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, says the worst of the dreaded coronavirus crisis was over in Italy.

The Pontiff said this on Sunday, while addressing those who assembled for his weekly Angelus prayer, for the first time in Saint Peter’s Square since the COVID-19 crisis began.

“Your presence in the square is a sign that in Italy the acute phase of the epidemic is over,” said Pope Francis.

“But be careful… do not celebrate victory too soon,” he warned, while urging them to continue following social distancing rules.

The pope’s comment comes just a day after Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, in a statement late Saturday, said the last person found to have been infected with the virus disease in recent weeks had tested negative.

“Today there are no more cases of coronavirus among employees of the Vatican,” or within Vatican City,” said Bruni.

Twelve people in total within the Vatican had been infected by the virus, The Guardian reports.

The Argentine pope expressed his sympathy for those in some Latin American countries like Brazil and Peru, which have been hit hard by the coronavirus.

“Unfortunately in other countries — I am thinking of some of them — the virus continues to claim many victims,” he said.

“Last Friday, in one country, one person died every minute! Terrible. I wish to express my closeness to those populations, to the sick and their families, and to all those who care for them,” he said.

During Italy’s two-month lockdown which began in March, Francis continued to address the faithful via videoconference from within a chapel within his Vatican residence.

The COVID-19 epidemic has killed nearly 34,000 people in Italy, but experts believe it has now been mostly been controlled.