Priests advised to celebrate Masses outdoors after massive earthquake in Italy

Priests in central Italy have been instructed to celebrate Mass outdoors following another devastating earthquake yesterday, which reduced churches including Basilica of St Benedict to rubble.

After the 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck Norcia in the early morning on October 30, Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti of Perugia-Citta della Pieve advised priests to not celebrate Mass indoors over the next few days, including November 1, the Solemnity of All Saints, which is also a national holiday in Italy.

At the noonday Angelus on the same day, Pope Francis prayed for the "the wounded and the families that have suffered major damage as well as for the personnel involved in rescue efforts and in aiding the victims.”