No public celebrations, not even with a limited number of guests.

For community liturgical celebrations, please respect the measures of "social distancing" - of 1 meter - recommended by our country. And of course, those of the Conference of Bishops of France and CORREF regarding the communion and the concelebrants. A "social distancing" to be respected as much as possible in living together.

Many communities will be missing Eucharist during these weeks. This is a fast that's going to make us suffer. May be this will bring us to a deeper communion with all the invisible people who is represented in each one of us and in the hearts of our communities. It is the time to further expand this communion.

The question of the wake of our deceased brothers and sisters and funeral celebrations is becoming more and more challenging. Besides vital health care services, we will come back to you with precise proposals so that those who die, will continue to be honored as fitting for a human person. This will manifest our hope that the God of all tenderness welcomes them always.

For the communities that accommodate elderly (EHPAD beds), the same measures of every establishment must be strictly respected, especially regarding visits.

In every house where we have employees, the recommendations of the Prime Minister on March 14, Saturday, should be implemented. If they the staff are indispensable, such as care givers and kitchen staff, part time working should be applied, depending on the case, layoffs. And of course, work from home when possible. For staffs who are indispensable, facilitate their transportation in a safe way. It is beyond mention that special care must be taken to ensure that none of our employees find themselves in a financial difficulty.

All these constraints might seem excessive to us. Spring is beginning, the life blooms with all its colors and scents and once again fills us with wonder. But we are fighting with an invisible enemy and everyone is in his/her own way, is part of this war from a modest place, an important soldier. 

It's not about fighting the spread of the virus just for ourselves, but in the name of our fraternity with concern for others, first and foremost for the most fragile members of our society: sick, migrants, homeless, poor people and many others. Our societies, ourselves perhaps, we usually put women and men, into the quarantined human groups at a distance. Sometimes we make scapegoats of them. Our history, including our religious history, bears its stigma even today. The necessary "quarantine" that we are asked to follow from now on, could have this spiritual virtue of bringing us together by faith by the heart of all these faces that are vulnerable, rejected, left behind and all those who suffer.

Fraternity is still the concern of our health care system and of all the caregivers who support it on a daily basis. They're on forefront for all of us. We know their competence and their involvement. We also know their limits, even in a rich country like ours. Let us not, through negligence or recklessness, contribute in enlarging it more. In the coming weeks more patients will come and more will arrive serious. The virus can affect anyone and can develop in severe forms in all. The fraternity is intimate with us to carry the concern to do all we can so that we do not further restrict specialized services or even the entire health care system, and further exhausting those who give themselves selflessly. Let us pass on to them our appreciation. 

We who love hospitality so much, the first biblical virtue, make it creative. Creative first of all and we are well aware that this is difficult - for our brothers and sisters and for the people around the world.

Elderly sisters sick and in EHPAD (Old age homes). Visiting is part of our way of life. It is for we are a human necessity as well as a spiritual one. But today Since all visitors are forbidden, it is imperative to find other forms of visits, support and companionship. Not only to protect them, but also to watch over those with whom we live and who are working with us, finding ways that signify our friendship and care.

Our capacity as human beings must remain determined in this long term struggle. Not in rebellion of a virus that does not have a cure, but by following modest measures, small unpretentious laboratories of a creativity link.

We also propose that each community may pray for the hospital that is the most close to them, all of their patients and caregivers. But also, the EHPADs of our neighborhood or in our homes. But also, the medical and nursing teams working in prisons and in associations serving the most disadvantaged in our country.

In this hospitality of an incarnated faith, let us also not forget the services of the State, they too are on the bridge relentlessly, as are those of the municipalities. All these women and all these men are at our service. All of them are facing something that has not been seen for a long time, in this measure, which is shaking up the whole society and everything in our societies. This is not the time to take political positions, nor to become Chief Health Officer for each other. Later on, the balance sheets will be drawn up. For now, support them is the demand of our democracy, the way we are deeply attached to the freedom, dignity, equality and fraternity can stand up in this unprecedented crisis and we will overcome.

May we show our gratitude to each other. 

Our biblical tradition teaches us that plagues are never far away. It tells us also that human beings take time, 40 days, 40 years, to find their way, to change their life, their heart. It's time to open up more, to widen the space in our interior tent.

In these dark weeks, many people are and will be in fear, in distress, without sources of support. In the Church, we need to find ways to support them, even though that we won't be able to reach them physically, which is what we normally do, for many of us, by visiting them and accompanying them, showing that we are listening. Our overwhelming closeness, our humble and tenacious faith is a priority. The spiritual and human support cannot be interrupted, quite the contrary, when people and families need it all the more as the usual places, chaplaincies, parishes, can't respond as much anymore. The service of the Church, today more than yesterday, must be one of compassion to anyone who needs it. It's up to us together to invent some new form, at the service of all in these times of great trial for many.

Dear Sisters, Brothers and Fathers, let us remain close to each other through friendship and prayer. Through supplication for this world and for us all to learn from this drama and of this fight to become more human and closer. Let's leave no stone unturned in our responsibility and concern for all of us.

With all my fraternal friendship,