Francis celebrated the centenary Mass at the altar on the tomb of St. John Paul II. And for the first time since the national lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic, he celebrated in the presence of over 100 people.

Pope Francis asked the group to ‘prepare the future’ not ‘prepare for the future.’

The pope also called on people “to embrace all those who are experiencing situations of precariousness, abandonment, marginalization and rejection as a result of Covid-19.”

The Holy See, the central government of the Catholic Church, is in crisis mode as it struggles to find ways to balance its budget in these turbulent times.

Pope Francis also called on world leaders “to invest in health care as the primary common good.”

Pope Francis also drew attention to Africa and recalled that 40 years ago, St. John Paul II spoke out about the plight of the people of the Sahel.

“I am a friar and I remain a friar,” the Rev. Marco Tasca told his fellow Franciscans.

Italian Catholics will be able to attend Mass in public beginning on May 18, provided certain norms are respected.

“Pope Francis gives enormous importance to the plight of the millions of forgotten men, women and children forced to migrate within their own countries and known internationally as ‘internally displaced people.’”

The appeal calls on believers in God worldwide to hold “a day for fasting, prayers, and supplications” on May 14.