they see instead of the news line from berlin and east under lockdown churches around the world celebrate the holy day with no congregation in rome pope francis breaks with centuries of tradition to live stream the easter sunday mass at st peter's square normally packed with tens of thousands of worshippers stands deserted and also on the program to stay at home over the easter weekend that's what germany's president told his country in a red televised address frank coltish don meyer said this crisis demands solidarity and the best of society.

i'm a decorator is welcome to the program pope francis has been saying a live streamed east a mass as the world's 1300000000 catholics celebrate the holiday under lockdown francis has been speaking and sent pages basilica to a small audience a star in the end is the end of holy week rather one of the most important dates of the christian calendar but this year also says have been held in private as the coronavirus restrictions kate most of the faithful at home during the holidays good for them. and it's cross now to martin gak database of religious affairs correspondent martin what does the pope's speech mean for catholics at a critical moment like this. i think that one should keep in mind.

you know in many ways the church has become essentially the very source of solace and the very source of companionship for many people that right no are in a state of complete isolation i mean this is a case for i think broad broad swaths of the catholic world so i think that essentially 2 things are happening the 1st one he said we have a certain degree of you know social and community isolation means that people do not have even their loved ones in many cases to rely on a time like days of course the voice of the church becomes much more much more prevalent not being able to bring people into the church and one now might actually have a clear understanding of the importance of being in a community when a situation of great crisis arrives not being able to or can bring the people into the church to church he said essentially trying now to go to the people through the

gentle means so i think that we're seeing really their revolution in this very moment the revolution of church church participation precisely by the use of technology bringing the church back to the people yeah well as you say possibly the church of more important to worship is now than ever before. it has a lot of authority and is a big presence in the lives of catholics around the world how has the church used its way to help stem the outbreak. look i mean it's quite clear that the church from the vatican to its many parish is is actually sort of pushing very hard and idea that social distancing which is to the very idea of the church which is essentially bringing the community together that they are taking this policy position very seriously at the very same time just the sheer number of priests and people in the church that are going to stand directly next to people who are dying and. their star becoming infected and dying we have seen something in there of 60

priests in india better get more reaching of the dying who have been ministering to the sick shows that you know at a time like these the human the human of the priest are the human bricks in many of the of the members of the church become sexually essential because in fact other ways people are not only living through this crisis loan they're dying alone. and the pope the himself pope francis is nice to his concern for and focus on the poll he's being quite critical of the way in which some countries have treated their poll injuring this crisis how is that been reflected in his response to it. i mean this has been 11 opportunity and perhaps the most important one for the vote to show sort of the core of gender concerning what kind of church he wants to see and he was taking aim particularly we need to let us take an aim at the far right of

the knee and the leg and sort of the nationalists who essentially have taken the position that you know the idea of where in 1080 of ministry etc are essentially insufficient i mean the church position is now very much. it could only be necessity if one is going to meet in social necessity or both things that are absolutely imperative. for the state and for people who care we care for communities and that of course extends beyond our nation because whatever happens essentially in the country next door in the country on the other side of the mediterranean will miss or effect in our communities. and i just have as correspondent thanks very much. you're very welcome. as we've just had christians around the world have been celebrating easter this year things are looking very different because of the global crisis. lord jesus we love you today

this texas church holds more than 16000 worshippers this easter hiver it's only joel the steam and a few of his team with the preacher won't let that get in his way or that they could that you're bigger than a virus and bigger than fear bigger than anything this fight to stop us but they did it today lord it's a victory. for a special times call for special measures even the choir at lakewood church is working from home today with most of the united states on lockdown a student had to turn this year's easter service into a virtual one with some prominent support. high lakewood community i'm mariah carey and i'm so glad i could join you this easter we find ourselves in a unique time in history where we can celebrate together in person and i'm grateful that so many of us are staying home and staying safe. staying home is the directive that is also being strictly observed in the heart of jerusalem's old city only

a handful of priests attended mass at the church of the holy self occur the place where christians believe jesus was crucified and resurrected. the. in the south korean capital seoul which is not under lockdown worshippers could attend easter mass in person while maintaining a safe distance. for congregations across the globe the coronavirus of the demick has out of the major challenge to easter celebrations here in the french city of leo only those living at the church site were able to attend the easter vigil. her. but despite all the challenges this colombian priest believes the situation also has a positive side because of coronavirus. just recently began connecting online

with parishioners at home. although it seems difficult i think it's a renewal of the church not only for us priests but for the families themselves who have met again in this holy time on. this easter pews and many churches around the world will remain empty preachers like. will continue to spread their messages one stream at a time. and throughout the day we're speaking to our correspondents around the world about a stake in the time of corunna and earlier i spoke to charlotte potts in london and i asked her how the attitude of british prime minister barak johnson might change now that he himself has been hospitalized with tame i think it was certainly a wake up call for the prime minister and for the country and boris johnson himself did not take the crisis seriously at 1st he only said wash your hands while

continental europe was already very hard hits and in the past couple of weeks while he was in isolation then in the hospital then later in intensive care there's certainly been a lack of leadership at the moment the foreign minister is deputising for him but boris johnson's leadership is missing he is now on the mend we're hearing he's still in the hospital he's watching kevin alone at home playing. a hearing he thanked the national health service but his recovery we're also hearing might take a month or so so he's not completely out of the woods yet. data paul speaking to me a little earlier from london time now to take a look at some of the other news from around the world this hour the u.s. has overtaken italy as the country with the highest confirmed number of coronavirus deaths president all trampas said he wants to reopen america but public health experts insist it's still too early to think about easing restrictions that have

closed businesses. brazil has reported the 1st case of coated 19 in the city of god a slum which inspired the film of the same name in a support workers have been disinfecting the straits of the crowded favela home to almost a quarter of the population of rio de janeiro. north korea is pledging tougher measures to protect its population from the virus officials have repeatedly insisted the country has not so fast saying any cases but far medical experts are skeptical given the high number of infections in neighboring nations. here in germany the president has a papal to come together during the coronavirus pandemic frank oldest on my ass germans to stick to the restrictions even as spring weather over easter make socializing outdoors war tempting the never done my eyes tavi address also looked also beyond germany to the global response which is against the soldiers rather

this is a test of our humanity it is bringing out both the best and the worst in people so . let us show each other the best in us and let the stroh's out in europe as well. germany come out emerge strong and fit from this crisis if our neighbors are not strong and fit as well. it is not without reason that this blue for america's standing here. 30 years after german unity 75 years after the end of the war we germans are not merely asked to show solidarity we are obliged to do so superficial. for more i'm joined by w. political correspondent kate brady kate hi we heard. solidarity between nations what does he mean by that and what's germany's role well germany certainly plays a huge role in their response not least of all here in your report germany is

indeed the largest economy and we've slowly seen germany take a less nationalistic approach to its response to current virus something that we saw among many e.u. member states initially with border closures and bans and limitations also been initially put in place when it came to the exports of medical protective gear but we are now seeing of course germany taken many patients from neighboring a new member states into its intensive care units of course germany luckily hasn't been quite as badly hit by coronavirus as some other states and on top of that we also saw the finance ministers come to agreement this week on a huge financial aid package which aims not only to question the economic impact of the coronavirus now during the crisis but also in the aftermath so of course as we have formed a how germany and especially how germany in the e.u.

reacts and responds right now will very much affect the future of the european union after the coronavirus and of course particularly when it comes to the success and survival of the eurozone as well. and we've also heard chancellor angela merkel addressed the public several times on this topic and she's the one with the power to make decisions why did president stan mine choose to give this address this weekend. well it very much comes down to the fact that it is east as this weekend unlike in many places around the world easter is a huge religious festival here in germany but also it's something that's steeped in tradition it's a long weekend when people would usually be taking a long weekend away or visiting family and friends spending time with loved ones which is something that is simply not possible this weekend unless of course you are living with the relatives and friends and so the temptation is there as you can see behind me we're set to have a glorious day of sunny spring weather here in berlin at least and the temptation

to go out and maybe start to let your guard down and be a little more irresponsible when it comes to practice and social distancing is certainly that right now although there has been some moments of cautious optimism in germany this week the last thing germany wants right now is a pink or rather a a increase a sudden increase a spike should i say in a coronavirus cases. political correspondent kate brady thanks very much for the update. well fans have been paying tribute to american singer songwriter bill withers who died last month at mt at the age of $81.00 in chicago they paid him a unique tribute without breaking social distancing rules. people belted out with his hit lain on me a song about friendship during hard times from their windows and porches a song has become a coronavirus anthem a reminder that music has not lost its palette to bring us to get.

there. you're watching tape of any news from berlin anthony how it will be with you next hour thanks very much. way discover the bauhaus school oh host world starts. w. o a a mug or just was suited for the russian soul. and. so many different walks of life some are. all clear.