Pope Francis has made a surprise visit to some of the poor and homeless being vaccinated in the Vatican.
According to a Holy See Press Office statement, Pope Francis went to the atrium of Vatican’s Paul VI Hall this morning, Good Friday, where vaccinations continue of those 1200 in need the Pontiff is having vaccinated at no cost.
The Holy Father arrived about 10:30 a.m. while vaccinations were being administered to some homeless people or others in need, who were received and being accompanied by some Roman organizations.
“The Pope'” the Vatican statement noted’ “greeted doctors and nurses, followed the procedure of the preparation of the vaccine doses, and talked with people waiting for their vaccination.” Vatican Media has captured the Pope’s visit in some photos accompanying this article.
To date, out of some 1,200 needy people to whom the vaccine will be administered this week, some 800 people have been vaccinated with the first doses.
In a March 26 statement from the Office of Papal Charities, they announced that during this Holy Week, doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine would be used to vaccinate 1,200 of the poorest and most marginalized people who, because of their situation, are the most exposed to the virus.
These doses were purchased by the Holy See and offered by the Lazzaro Spallanzani Hospital through the Vatican Covid-19 Commission. The same vaccine administered to the Pope and employees of the Holy See is being used.
The gesture, the statement explained, is intended “to reinforce the Holy Father’s numerous appeals to ensure that no one be excluded from the anti Covid-19 vaccine, the Office of Papal Charities once again accompanies the most fragile and vulnerable.”
In order to continue such charity toward the poor and vulnerable, specifically in giving them the opportunity to access treatment and vaccination, one wishing to help can pay for the vaccine for a person in need by giving “alms” with an online donation through the Holy Father’s charity account, managed by the Office of Papal Charities.
Pope Francis, in his message on the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord 2020, appealed: “I ask everyone – government leaders, businesses, international organizations – to foster cooperation and not competition and to seek a solution for everyone: vaccines for all, especially for the most vulnerable and needy of all regions of the planet. Before all others: the most vulnerable and needy!”
