Pope Francis encourages prayer, fast to overcome COVID-19 pandemic

Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Thursday for the Day of Prayer Against the Pandemic, encouraging people of all faiths to pray, fast and "ask the merciful God for mercy and pity in this tragic moment of the pandemic."

"We are all brothers and sisters," the Pope said. "St Francis of Assisi used to say 'all brothers and sisters.' And so, men and women of every religious confession are uniting themselves today in prayer and penance to ask for the grace of healing from this pandemic," Francis added.

The pontiff has been conducting all of his events within the Vatican walls as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread around the globe.

The Vatican has confirmed there are 12 cases of the new coronavirus among residents or employees of the independent city-state.