Pope postpones May trip over coronavirus concerns

Pope Francis’s  trip to Malta in May has been postponed due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, the Vatican said Monday. 

The trip was postponed in agreement with authorities and the local church, according to the announcement. 

The new date for the trip has not yet been set. 

Italy is in lockdown in response to the pandemic. The European country is one of the nations hit hardest by the virus, with more than 59,000 cases and 5,476 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Malta, by comparison, has reported 90 cases. 

Francis announced on Sunday that he will offer a special blessing this week as the COVID-19 outbreak has infected hundreds of thousands and disrupted societies around the globe.

The “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, which is traditionally only given at Christmas and Easter, will be offered on Friday.