Pope, world's Christians join in prayer to end coronavirus

Pope Francis speaks ahead of reciting the "Our Father" from a library inside the Vatican as a response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, after calling for Christians all over the world to recite the prayer together at noon, at the Vatican, March 25, 2020. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis and Christians worldwide recited "The Lord's Prayer" on Wednesday to ask God to stop the coronavirus pandemic which has infected nearly half a million people, disrupted countless lives and shut down churches and other public venues.

Francis invited all other Christian leaders and individual Christians on Sunday to recite the 'Our Father' prayer simultaneously at noon Italian time (1100 GMT) on Wednesday.