Pope Francis celebrates mass via livestream amid lockdown due to COVID-19

Pope Francis leads Mass via a video livestream in a chapel full of empty seats as part of measures to combat the spread of coronavirus, at the St. Martha House in the Vatican, March 10, 2020. Vatican Media/­Handout via REUTERS

Pope Francis has canceled his main public appearances to avoid crowds gathering to see him and will stream them on the Internet from inside the Vatican because of the coronavirus outbreak in Italy.

The photo shows the Pontiff leading a Mass via a video livestream in a chapel full of empty seats at the St. Martha House in the Vatican.

The move is part of measures to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Over the weekend, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis will not address crowds from a window nor will he hold a general audience. — Reuters/BAP, GMA News