Much about the pope, his life and work has been gathered over the course of his sainthood cause, which Pope Francis furthered in 2017 with the recognition that Pope John Paul lived the Christian virtues in a heroic way.

Pontifical Salesian University, which has been conducting classes online since March 5, houses some 280 members of six religious orders.

The pope dedicated his catechesis April 22 to a reflection on the human and Christian responsibility to care for the Earth, humanity’s common home.

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.

In his homily during morning Mass in the chapel of his residence, Pope Francis warned against "detachment" from the sacraments, the church, and each other, saying that it was "dangerous."

In other circumstances, however, the current crisis is the result of abandonment "from afar" when it comes to not providing enough assistance and therapeutic care for the elderly, the dicastery added.

Pope Saint John Paul II is remembered for his tireless evangelization on the 15th anniversary of his death.

The pandemic does not represent God's wrath, because the disease affects most frequently and tragically the weakest and most vulnerable -- the very people God loves and cares for the most.

With funerals forbidden nationwide, these ministers are also offering blessings and a dignified temporary place of rest before the departed's ultimate burial.

The medical and humanitarian emergency unfolding before their eyes has made it clear that the Western health care system of centralized hospital care cannot handle this and future epidemics and needs to shift toward more community-focused care.