The Vatican’s own Covid-19 experts have raised concerns over Pope Francis’ decision to forgo wearing a mask, saying the pontiff is particularly vulnerable to the disease.
The Rev Augusto Zampini – one of the key members of the pontiff’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. Zampini is one of a commission of experts Francis appointed to help chart the Catholic Church’s path through the coronavirus pandemic. ‘He has started to use the mask now,’ Mr Zampini said in response to reporters’ questions about the pope’s apparent disregard for protocol after being photographed numerous times without a mask indoors.
Pope Francis, 83, has frequently been pictured without a face covering apparently ignoring Vatican rules to wear a face mask indoors. Experts are concerned that the pontiff is particularly at risk of contracting Covid-19 due to his age, weight and the fact that he is missing part of one lung after a childhood illness. While Francis has been pictured wearing a mask on one occasion, advisers hope he will begin to do so during his weekly general audiences held in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican. Above, Francis (right) is pictured delivering his message on Wednesday, October 21 without a mask ‘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.
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