Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI receive their first doses of Covid-19 vaccine in the Vatican.
By Vatican News
The vaccination campaign against Covid-19 in the Vatican that began on Wednesday continues with both Pope Francis and Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI receiving their first doses of vaccine.
“I can confirm that as part of the Vatican City State’s vaccination program, as of today, the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine has been administered to Pope Francis and to Pope Emeritus,” said Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See. Press Office in response to journalists’ questions.
During an interview with Italian television station Tg5 on Sunday, Pope Francis announced that he intends to receive the vaccine this week.
The pope referred to the vaccination as “an ethical action, because you gamble with your health, you gamble with your life, but also with the lives of others.”
The private secretary of emeritus pope, Benedict XVI, bishop Georg Gaenswein, also confirmed that the emeritus of the pope would be vaccinated.