Rome Newsroom, Apr 30, 2020 / 10:45 am
After eight weeks without funerals, Italian families will be able finally to gather together to mourn and pray at funeral Masses for the victims of the coronavirus starting May 4.
In Milan, the largest city in Italy's coronavirus epicenter, priests are preparing for an influx of funeral requests in the coming weeks in the Lombardy region, where 13,679 have died.
Fr. Mario Antonelli, who oversees liturgies on behalf of the Archdiocese of Milan, told CNA that archdiocesan leadership met April 30 to coordinate guidelines for Catholic funerals as more than 36,000 people remain positive for COVID-19 in their region.
"I am moved, thinking of so many dear people who have wanted [a funeral] and still desire one," Fr. Antonelli said April 30.