The Swedish approach to Covid-19 has been to suggest rather than mandate social distancing, reports the pastor of a small island parish in the Baltic. So far that has meant a higher death toll than in other Nordic countries.

Archbishop Polak said the film showed required child protection standards were still not being observed in the Polish church.

Conspiracy theories regarding coronavirus being espoused by prominent clergymen like Cardinal Gerhard Muller and Archbishop Carlo Vigano have been rejected not only by fellow bishops but by lay Catholics as well.

Pope Francis also drew attention to Africa and recalled that 40 years ago, St. John Paul II spoke out about the plight of the people of the Sahel.

“I am a friar and I remain a friar,” the Rev. Marco Tasca told his fellow Franciscans.

World War II in Europe ended on May 7, 1945, with the unconditional surrender of the German Reich. The official celebration is normally marked May 8.