Pope postpones two mega-events by a year because of coronavirus

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis leaves after leading a Mass and the Regina Coeli prayer in Rome's Santo Spirito in Sassia church without public participation due to an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rome, Italy, April 19, 2020. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File Photo

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis has postponed two major international Catholic Church events by a year because of the uncertainties caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Vatican said on Monday.

While the Vatican and the pope have postponed a number of events and trips that had been planned for this year, Monday's announcement was the first time the outbreak has affected the long-term planning of the 1.3 billion-member Church.