Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI receive their first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in the Vatican.
By Vatican News
The vaccination campaign against Covid-19 in the Vatican, which began Wednesday, continues with both Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI receiving their first doses of the vaccine.
“I can confirm that as part of the Vatican City’s vaccination program, as of today the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine has been administered to Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus,” said Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office in response to questions from journalists.
Pope Francis had announced during an interview with Italian television channel Tg5 on Sunday that he planned to get the vaccine this week.
The Pope referred to the vaccination as “an ethical act, because you gamble with your health, you gamble with your life, but you also gamble 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.