VATICAN CITY – The Vatican started offering free vaccinations against COVID-19 to homeless people in Rome on Wednesday.
The vaccinations took place in the atrium of the Paul VI Hall, the enormous hall that hosts a weekly papal general audience, but which is largely no longer used due to the coronavirus pandemic.
They were overseen by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, 57, the Polish head of the papal charity office, who has taken on a leading personal role in caring for the homeless in Rome.
About 25 homeless people cared for in facilities managed by the office received their first dose, and more groups would be vaccinated in the coming days, a statement said.
Last week, both Pope Francis, 84, and ex-Pope Benedict, 93, received their first dose of a vaccine.
Pope Francis said in a television interview earlier this month that everyone should get a shot.
“It’s an ethical choice because you gamble with your health, with your life, but you also gamble with the lives of others,” he told Italian TV station Canale 5.
Under Francis, the Vatican set up a number of structures to help the homeless population of Rome, including a clinic, bathing facilities, and hairdressing and haircut services.