Bishop Lodi, heartening words as Pope

(ANSA) - LODI, 07 MAR - Pope Francis telephoned yesterday the Bishop of Lodi, Monsignor Maurizio Malvestiti. It was the same that explained it to the faithful in the letter with which he explained the decision of the Lombard Episcopal Conference to confirm the celebration of the masses behind closed doors. "He inquired about the situation - he said -, inviting to prayer and responsibility, with words full of faith, fatherly and heartening" in a situation of "epidemic emergency" which "remains gentle". "We thank him from the bottom of our hearts - the bishop wrote on the website of the Diocese - and pray for him, as for all of us, especially for the brothers and sisters of the redhead, for the sick and all those who assist them, in the vicinity of their families, who have sick relatives or lost loved ones ".