Vatican City, June 7: Pope Francis is cautioning people in countries emerging from coronavirus lockdowns to keep following authorities' rules for COVID-19 containment. “Be careful, don't cry victory, don't cry victory too soon," he said Sunday. Italy's gradual easing of stay-at-home rules now allows the public to gather in St. Peter's Square on Sundays for the pope's noon blessing, and Francis was clearly delighted to see several hundred people gathered in the square below his window, standing safely either individually or as families. Also Read | Coronavirus Antibody Treatment: AstraZeneca Nearing Breakthrough on 'Life-Saving' Therapy for Elderly and Vulnerable Patients.

Francis told the faithful to “follow the rules, they are rules that help us to avoid the virus getting ahead” again. “Thank God, we're slowly coming out” from the coronavirus pandemic," he said. Also Read | UK Eases Curbs, Places of Worship Set to Open for Private Prayer from June 15, Says Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick.

But in his prepared remarks, the Argentine-born pontiff has also expressed dismay that the virus is still claiming many lives, especially in Latin America. In his off-the-cuff comments to the people in the square, he didn't name any country, but said that two days earlier, in one day, a death of an infected person was registered every minute.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)