Pope decries spending on arms during pandemic in Easter message

Francis also calls for distribution of Covid-19 vaccines to be sped up, particularly to the world's poor

• Coronavirus - latest updates
• See all our coronavirus coverage

Pope Francis has urged countries in his Easter message to speed up the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, particularly to the world's poor, and called armed conflict and military spending during a pandemic scandalous".

Coronavirus has meant this has been the second year in a row that Easter papal services have been attended by small gatherings at a secondary altar of St Peter's Basilica, instead of crowds in the church or in the square outside.