The Vatican confirmed that both Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI have received their first doses of the vaccine against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“I can confirm that as part of the vaccination program of the Vatican City State, as of today, the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine has been administered to Pope Francis and to the Pope Emeritus,” Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office said in a statement.
Pope Francis had announced during an interview with Italian television station Tg5 on Sunday that he is ready to take the COVID-19 vaccine to encourage more people to take the shot.
The Pope calls the vaccination as “an ethical action, because you are gambling with your health, you are gambling with your life, but you are also gambling with the lives of others.”
“There is a suicidal denial which I cannot explain, but today we have to get vaccinated,” he told Canale 5.
Private Secretary to Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, Bishop Georg Gaenswein, also confirmed that he will be vaccinated.
re gambling with your health, you are gambling with your life, but you are also gambling with the lives of others.”
Private Secretary to Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, Bishop Georg Gaenswein, had also confirmed that the Pope emeritus would be vaccinated. (TDT)
