Pope, in Easter message, slams weapons spending in time of pandemic

Pope Francis celebrates Easter Mass at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 4, 2021. Filippo Monteforte/Pool via REUTERS

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis urged countries in his Easter message on Sunday to quicken distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, particularly to the world's poor, and called armed conflict and military spending during a pandemic "scandalous".

Coronavirus has meant this has been the second year in a row that Easter papal services have been attended by small gatherings at a secondary altar of St. Peter's Basilica, instead of by crowds in the church or in the square outside.