Pope delivers traditional Easter blessing pandemic-style In the Vatican, Pope Francis said it was "scandalous" that wars are continuing even during the coronavirus pandemic. In his Easter message, the head of the Catholic Church called on the international community to ensure that vaccines reach the poorest countries. France expects its public debt to rise and deficit to deepen as the prolonged pandemic dashes hopes of a quick economic recovery, according to Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire. A report about luxury Paris restaurants secretly violating lockdown rules prompted an official probe. TV channel M6 previously aired a story showing a party at a high-end venue with the attendees not wearing masks or following social distancing rules. Paris prosecutors said they aim to determine "who the organizers and participants may have been" as well as if the party was indeed held during lockdown.