Some people always will want to destroy unity and stifle prophets, Pope Francis said on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul.

The Eucharist heals people of their wounds, emptiness and sadness, and gives them the strength to share Christ’s loving mercy with others, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis prayed for people living in countries where COVID-19 is still causing a huge number of deaths, and he cautioned people in Italy to continue to be careful and follow health precautions.

St Peter’s Square was open to the public on 24 May, the Solemnity of the Ascension, and scores of visitors turned up for Pope Francis’ midday prayer and blessing.

The Vatican has last weekend announced that it will commemorate the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment with a yearlong series of initiatives dedicated to the safeguarding and care for the Earth.

As countries continue to reel from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis offered prayers for the men and women who have been unable to work.

Priests and doctors who gave their lives caring for the spiritual and physical wellbeing of others during the coronavirus pandemic are like Jesus – the good shepherd – who laid down his life for his flock, Pope Francis said.

We cannot allow globalisation to become “a new version of colonialism”, His Holiness Pope Francis has said in Querida Amazonia, the Apostolic Exhortation produced as a result of the recent Amazonian Synod in 2019.

Here are the texts of two prayers, written by Pope Francis, for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is asking people to recite the rosary and pray these prayers afterward.

As the world slowly recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a risk it will be struck by an even worse virus – that of selfish indifference, Pope Francis said.