Pope Francis receives vaccination against coronavirus - UPDATE

image AICA

The Vatican has confirmed today that Pope Francis, and Emeritus Pope Benedict both received their first Coronavirus vaccination today (14 January 2021) not yesterday, as reported by the Argentinian Bishops Conference (AICA) media office.

"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 Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office in response to journalists' questions.

Papal spokesman Matteo Bruni announced that the Vatican has acquired 10,000 doses of the vaccine and the vaccination campaign is taking place in the Pope Paul VI Hall.

In an interview on Italian television broadcast over the weekend, the Pope announced that his name was on the list to receive the vaccine, and stated: "I believe that ethically everyone should take the vaccine, it is an ethical option, because you risk your health, your life, but you also risk the lives of others."

Private Secretary to Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, Bishop Georg Gaenswein, also confirmed earlier that the Pope emeritus would be receiving the vaccination.