Pope prays for 'anonymous dead' from virus

Pope Francis on Thursday devoted his daily prayers to the dead, with special reference to unidentified people who have been buried in mass graves across the world as a result of the new coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking to an audience of a few priests and nuns at his morning mass in his residence at the Vatican, the Pope said: "Let's pray today for the dead, those who have died because of the pandemic and a special prayer for the dead, let's say, the anonymous dead, we have seen the photographs of mass graves, there are many there."

The Pope has been conducting all his events within the Vatican walls as the new coronavirus pandemic continues to spread rapidly around the world, with more than 3.1 million people infected and over 225,000 deaths.

The Vatican has confirmed there are 10 cases of the new virus among residents or employees of the independent city state.