- Title: On Good Friday, Jerusalem archbishop urges prayer for the suffering and dying
- Date: 10th April 2020
- Summary: JERUSALEM (APRIL 10, 2020) (REUTERS) ARCHBISHOP PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA, APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF THE LATIN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM , STANDING OUTSIDE CHURCH OF HOLY SEPULCHRE (SOUNDBITE) (English) APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF THE LATIN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM, ARCHBISHOP PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA, SAYING: "We are celebrating the Good Friday, the commemoration of death of Jesus in very difficult circumstances where death is taking a lot all over the world also in our country here. And so it's important in a way this place where this happened that we can pray this; commemorate this and also to be united in the heart in the prayer for all those who are suffering and dying." CLOSE OF ARCHBISHOP HANDS CARRYING A MASK AND UMBRELLA APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF THE LATIN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM OUTSIDE THE HOLY SEPULCHRE'S
- Embargoed: 24th April 2020 07:26
- Keywords: Covid-19 Good Friday Holy Sepulchre Jerusalem coronavirus
- Location: JERUSALEM
- City: JERUSALEM
- Country: Jerusalem
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001C8WQ53B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:On a sombre and quiet Good Friday (April 10) in Jerusalem, the Vatican's apostolic administrator in the Holy Land called for prayer for people suffering and dying from the coronavirus.
"We are celebrating Good Friday, the commemoration of the death of Jesus, under very difficult circumstances," Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa said outside Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, revered as the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection.
He spoke briefly to Reuters before entering the sandstone church's giant front doors. The church was closed to the public weeks ago, but was opened on Catholic Good Friday specifically for his entry for prayers and a service attended by a few clerics.
COVID-19 has infected over 10,000 in Israel, with 92 fatalities. There have been 263 cases and one death in the Palestinian territories, mostly in the occupied West Bank.
Jerusalem residents are locked down in their homes for all but essential activities, which do not include religious ceremonies.
The Christian denominations that share custody of the Holy Sepulchre face closures unprecedented in living memory, as do Jewish and Muslim leaders in a city that has sites sacred to all three faiths.
Passover, Easter and Ramadan all fall this month, with Catholics celebrating Good Friday today, and Easter Sunday on April 12.
(Production: Stephen Farrell/ Roleen Tafakji) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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