Pope Francis expressed his closeness and support to France, where Covid-19 has claimed more than 20,000 lives.

The fund will operate "thanks to the active collaboration of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) and the Pontifical Mission for Palestine," the statement said.

At the start of the live broadcast of Mass, the pope first prayed that people would use the pandemic-induced time of increased silence in their lives to learn how to listen.

This week on "Inside the Vatican," Molly Burhans explains how location data can help the church use its resources more efficiently to extend care to the greatest number of people.

Pope Francis says our experience today mirrors in many ways that of the disciples of Jesus after his death and burial in the tomb. Like them, “we live surrounded by an atmosphere of pain and uncertainty,” and we ask, “Who will roll away the stone [from the tomb?]”

Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI commemorated his 93rd birthday with morning Mass, Bavarian folk songs and congratulatory phone calls.