Covid 19 coronavirus: Pope fears for virus after meeting George Pell

Four Swiss Guards tested positive for coronavirus and were showing symptoms, the Vatican said Monday, as the surge in infections around Italy penetrated the Vatican walls.

The Swiss Guard, the world’s oldest standing army, performs ceremonial guard duties during Papal Masses, guard the gates of the Vatican and help protect the 83-year-old Pope Francis.

All four are in isolation while their contacts are traced, the Vatican said. They join three other Vatican residents who tested positive in recent weeks plus the dozen Holy See officials who tested positive during the first wave of the outbreak.

Despite positive cases among his own guards, Francis was once again seen without a mask on Monday. He greeted Australian Cardinal George Pell warmly in his private study, and neither of them wore a mask. Pell’s secretary and the Vatican photographer were also unmasked.

Pell returned to the Vatican last month after spending 13 months in prison in Australia before being cleared of child sexual abuse charges.

In a photograph of the meeting shared by the Vatican, the two appear side by side and without a mask.

Francis, who lost part of a lung due to illness when he was young, has received strong criticism on social media for avoiding a mask during his Wednesday general audience, held indoors last week.

He was seen shaking hands with the clergy and mingling with the masked crowd. His bodyguards were also without a mask.

Italy is seeing a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases, with the Lazio region around the Vatican among the worst hit in this second wave of the pandemic. Lazio currently has more people hospitalized with the virus than any other region, at 911, with 69 in intensive care.

The Vatican last week amended its mask mandates to match Italy’s, requiring them indoors and outdoors. The Vatican did not immediately respond when asked why Francis did not bring one to greet Pell.

The guards, famous for their wavy blue, red and yellow striped uniforms, are all single Swiss men under 30 and must be honest Catholics. They sign up for two-year terms of service and live in community within the Vatican City State.

During their annual swearing-in ceremony, which usually takes place in May but was postponed until October 4 due to Covid-19, none of the recruits donned a mask, despite wearing it while guarding the tickets to the Vatican City.

– Associated Press, additional reports NZ Herald