In anticipation of the resumption of masses next week, the Vatican underwent a thorough sanitization process led by individuals clad in protective overalls. The iconic St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest Catholic church globally, witnessed a meticulous cleaning, with workers donning masks and protective gear spraying disinfectant on every surface, including the statues beneath the ornate St. Peter’s Baldachin.
Saint Peter’s Basilica is set to reopen to visitors on Monday after a two-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a bid to enhance safety measures, the Vatican announced plans to conduct temperature checks on the faithful before entering its basilicas for Sunday Mass. This new protocol, which applies to all four Roman basilicas, including St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, surpasses the regulations implemented by Italian bishops for ordinary parishes.
The stringent measures include temperature checks on Sundays and feast days, especially when larger crowds are expected. Those exhibiting a fever or having been in contact with a COVID-19 patient will be prohibited from attending Mass. The decision to ban public Masses on March 10 during the initial lockdown sparked discontent among the Catholic population, prompting bishops to defend the freedom of religion.
While most of Italy’s churches remained open for individual prayer during the crisis, public Masses are scheduled to resume on May 18. The Vatican has not specified when Pope Francis will preside over his first post-lockdown celebration in St. Peter’s, but safety guarantees are being coordinated with basilica prelates.
Pope Francis, meanwhile, conducted a private and livestreamed mass at the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae in the Vatican on May 14. During the service, he called for believers of every religion to unite in prayer, fasting, and acts of charity to seek mercy from God amid the pandemic.
Italy, the first European country hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, has reported 223,096 confirmed cases and 31,368 fatalities. As the nation enters “phase two” of its lockdown exit plan, strict measures are being implemented to ease social distancing. Italy has taken cautious steps to allow regional travel and the reopening of markets, marking a significant transition in the country’s fight against the virus.
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“Masses for the public can resume on May 18 but under strict conditions outlined in a protocol signed by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, president of the Italian Bishops Conference.”
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