The vaccination campaign against Covid-19 in the Vatican which began on Wednesday continues with Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI receiving their first doses of the vaccine.
“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,” said Director of the Holy See Press Office Matteo Bruni, in response to journalists’ questions.
The CNN also reported the 84-year-old Pope Francis or his 93-year-old predecessor have been vaccinated under a program in the Vatican city.
Pope Francis had announced during an interview with Italian television station Tg5 on Sunday that he planned to receive the vaccine this week.
The Pope referred to 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.”
The pontiff also used his Christmas message to ask countries to share vaccines, adding that “they must be available to everyone.”
- Vatican News