Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had received the first COVID-19 vaccine dose.
The Vatican on Thursday said that Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had received the first coronavirus vaccine dose.
In a statement, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said that he’s able to confirm that within the inoculation program of the Vatican City State, to this date, the first COVID-19 vaccine dose had been administered to Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
The statement, however, didn’t say when Pope Francis or Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI were vaccinated.
Vatican City started its inoculation program in a medical center set-up inside its main Auditorium Hall on Wednesday, where Pope Francis often held his weekly audiences.
Both men were at higher risk of contracting the coronavirus disease because of their age.
READ ALSO: Personal Doctor Of Pope Francis Dies Due To Coronavirus Complication — Report
In recent weeks, Pope Francis had spoken several times on the subject of vaccines.
The Pope said in an interview with Italy’s Canale 5 channel broadcast on Sunday night that people had an “ethical duty” to take the vaccine and confirmed that he’s in line to receive the vaccine once the Vatican’s inoculation program got underway.
Pope Francis also used his Christmas message to ask countries to share vaccines.
“I beg all those in charge of states, of companies, of international bodies … to promote cooperation and not competition and to seek a solution for everyone, vaccines for all, especially for the most vulnerable and needy in all regions of the globe,” Pope Francis said during his traditional Urbi et Orbi message at the Vatican.
The Vatican’s newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, on Saturday announced that the personal doctor of Pope Francis had died as a result of coronavirus complications.
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