Pope Francis has prayed for the growing number of .
The Argentine pontiff live-streamed an Easter Monday prayer from his private library as the Vatican as Italy entered a second month of restrictions on most outdoor activities.
Worries about domestic abuse have spread across the world as nations force billions to stay at home to stop the spread of COVID-19 that has officially killed nearly 115,000 people.
The pope offered a prayer to the "many mothers and sisters who find themselves locked in the house with the whole family, with children, with the elderly and the disabled."
"Sometimes they are at risk of being subjected to violence, for a coexistence in which they carry too great a burden," he said.
"We pray for them, that God may give them strength and that our communities can support them together with their families."
Countries from Australia to France have seen surges in the number of domestic violence cases reported to the police.
But worries persist that many cases of abuse go unreported and that the true scale of the violence is unknown.
Italy's interior ministry is using a phone app to help geo-locate reports of domestic of violence.
The government has also allocated $30 million euros ($32.8 million) to help shelter women victims of domestic abuse.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit . In an emergency, call 000.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
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