Dramatic photos show the pope delivering an 'extraordinary' prayer of hope to a hauntingly empty St. Peter's Square during Italy's coronavirus lockdown

Reuters

• Pope Francis on Friday night delivered a message of hope to the world amid the coronavirus pandemic.
• He did so in a hauntingly empty St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, as Italy is completely locked down to stop the virus spreading.
• "Like the disciples in the Gospel we were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm," the pope said, referencing the Gospel of St. Mark.
• The pictures of the address are stunning, and you can see a selection below.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

With Italy on total lockdown amid its devastating coronavirus outbreak, worshippers in the country and around the world are unable to attend churches, or even leave their homes.

On Friday evening, Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, took the extraordinary step of delivering an address in front of an empty St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, leading a prayer of hope for Christians around the world battling to stop the virus and save lives.

The Urbi et Orbi service delivered by Pope Francis to the world is usually only given at Easter and Christmas, the holiest days in Catholicism.

Pope Francis, however, took the extraordinary step of giving the prayers amid the worst pandemic in a century.

In the rapidly fading evening light, the pope, dressed in the papacy's signature white vestments, was stunningly set against the darkening stone of the monumental St. Peter's Basilica.

The scene made for a dramatic set of images, captured by Reuters photographers Yara Nardi and Gugliemo Mangiapane.

See a handful of the best pictures below:

The prayer, known officially as the "Urbi et Orbi" — meaning "From the city [of Rome] to the world — is usually delivered only twice a year, at Easter and Christmas.

Reuters

Pope Francis, however, decided to deliver the address as a message of hope to Catholics around the world battling the coronavirus outbreak. The service was titled: "An Extraordinary Prayer in the Time of Pandemic."

Reuters

During the address, Pope Francis read from a passage in the gospel of Matthew when Jesus and his disciples were struck by a sudden storm while sailing on the Sea of Galilee. In the gospel, Jesus implores: "Peace! Be still!" The storm subsides and the disciples are saved from death.

Reuters


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