Christians mark second Easter under coronavirus curbs, as pope urges vaccine distribution to poorer nations

Easter celebrations have been dampened in many countries as restrictions remain in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19

Pope Francis used his Easter Sunday address to urge the international community to overcome vaccine distribution delays

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Pope Francis delivers a blessing during the Easter Sunday Mass at St Peters Basilica in the Vatican. Photo: Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:00pm, 4 Apr 2021Updated: 10:00pm, 4 Apr 2021

Millions of Christians around the world celebrated a second Easter under coronavirus restrictions on Sunday with Pope Francis calling for vaccines to be shared among the poorest nations as Covid-19 surges.

Despite vaccine roll-outs gathering pace in many richer countries, dramatic spikes in cases have seen deeply unpopular restrictions enforced from Canada to Europe and South America.

Vaccination was “an essential tool” in the fight against the virus, the pope said in his Easter Sunday address, with Italy under a strict lockdown over the weekend.

“I urge the entire international community … to commit to overcoming delays in the distribution of vaccines and to facilitate their distribution, especially in the poorest countries,” he said to a congregation of only around 100 people inside the vast St Peter’s Basilica.

Stricter curbs have come into effect in Belgium as well as in France, where authorities are scrambling to deal with a serious spike in cases that has overwhelmed hospitals in Paris.