Pope Francis (C) greets Thai and foreign Catholics inside St Peter's church in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 22 November 2019. Pope Francis is in Thailand for an apostolic visit on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the founding of Mission de Siam. Pope Francis is the first pontiff to visit Thailand in nearly four decades after John Paul II in 1984. EPA-EFE/DIEGO AZUBELThe decree by Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Pope Francis' vicar for the Rome archdiocese, will remain in effect until at least April 3. There are more than 900 parochial and historic churches in the Italian capital.
Previously, only Masses had been cancelled because of the outbreak. The decree also dispenses Catholics in the archdiocese from their obligation to attend Mass on Sunday's and on what are known as Holy Days of Obligation.
The decree allows a relatively smaller number of oratories in convents and monasteries to remain open.
The move follows a decision by the Italian government on Wednesday night to close virtually every commercial activity in Italy apart from pharmacies, food shops and other stores selling essential goods.
St. Peter's Basilica, which is on Vatican territory, has already been closed and the pope has cancelled his two weekly appearances in public. He held his most recent Sunday blessing and general audience from inside the Vatican and both have been streamed on the internet.
(Reporting by Philip Pullella Editing by Leslie Adler, Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
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