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COVID-19 Diaries: A Surreal Holy Week in a Rome Without People

Sabina Castelfranco

   Last week, I had to go out to report and shoot video in Rome during the
   most surreal Holy Week I have ever experienced.

   Three of us -- cameraman Mark, driver Alfredo and I -- decided that our
   first stop would be Saint Peter's Square; all of us were wearing our
   protective masks.

   Along the way, all we saw were police cars with officers checking on
   anyone venturing out of their homes, empty public buses, the odd
   deliveryman on a bicycle and a few people aimlessly walking their dogs.

   The eerie feeling of seeing a lifeless Saint Peter's Square during Holy
   Week is hard to describe. Tens of thousands come here from all over the
   world at this time of the year. The concept that even Pope Francis and
   the Vatican very quickly adapted to life in lockdown Italy is hard to
   grasp.

   Yet, no one here is taking any chances after the country has witnessed
   more than 20,000 deaths due to the coronavirus.

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