News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Church News

Vatican experts' concern over Pope's decision to forgo face covering

by Press Association

Pope Francis' decision to forgo wearing a mask has been noticed, with some concern, by the commission of Vatican experts he appointed to help chart the Catholic Church's path through the coronavirus pandemic.

The Rev Augusto Zampini, one of the key members of the pope's Covid-19 commission, acknowledged that at the age of 83 and with part of his lung having been removed after an illness in his youth, Francis would be at high risk for complications if he were to become infected with Covid-19.

"He has started to use the mask now," Mr Zampini said in response to reporters' questions.

"And I hope he will use it in the general audiences, when he is close to the people. If you're in an open space, we know that it's different. But, well, we are working on that."

Francis has courted some criticism for declining to wear a mask when indoors, even though Vatican regulations call for masks indoors and out when social distancing cannot be guaranteed.

While Francis' lung condition could help explain his decision to forgo the mask, he donned one for more than two hours last week when he presided over an indoor and outdoor inter-religious prayer service in Rome.

However, the following day, Francis went maskless during his indoor general audience in the Vatican auditorium, including when he shook hands with a handful of similarly maskless bishops and leaned in to speak privately to each one.

On Saturday, he met with Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez, who arrived wearing a mask only to take it off for the audience in the pope's library.

Photos of the maskless leaders caused a mild stir in Spain over the weekend, but the prime minister's office dismissed it by saying the delegation was following Vatican protocol rules.

Spain last week became the first country in western Europe with more than one million confirmed virus cases.

The Vatican has declined to respond to questions about Francis and masks.

Mr Zampini said the recent rise in infections in the tiny city state have commission members and the Vatican as a whole concerned.

Thirteen Swiss Guards and a resident of the hotel where Francis lives have recently tested positive.

"We are very worried," Mr Zampini said, noting that the Vatican has strong regulations about keeping social distancing and washing hands within the territory.

"We have all protocols in place, but still we have cases."

He acknowledged, though, that the contagion within the Vatican has merely driven home the danger of the virus so that the Vatican itself can be witness to what the rest of the world is experiencing and help be part of the solution.

The commission is working to address the current needs of the church around the world with concrete acts of assistance, while also developing policy recommendations for how governments and institutions can re-think global economic, environmental, social, healthcare and other structures to be more equitable and sustainable.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate