Lourdes shrine closes healing pools as precaution against coronavirus
At the Lourdes shrine in France, the pools of water in which sick pilgrims normally bathe are temporarily closed in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 in parts of Europe and many other parts of the world. The shrine announced that pilgrims are still welcome, however.
“Our first concern will always be the safety and health of the pilgrims and the shrine’s working community,” said a note posted February 28, 2020 on the shrine’s website. “As a precaution, the pools have been closed until further notice.”
In the center of Rome, the French Church of St. Louis, home of three famous Caravaggio paintings, closed on March 1 because a priest who had been resident at the church has been tested positive for the coronavirus upon returning to France and was hospitalized. The 42-year-old priest was in satisfactory condition, the Archdiocese of Paris said. The other two dozen members of the community of French priests at St. Louis were placed under a precautionary quarantine.
Dioceses and religious communities across Europe adopted precautionary measures starting with advising people at Mass not to shake hands during the sign of peace.
Source: catholicphilly.com
