Pope Francis has had his first public audience since the outbreak of the corona pandemic. He did without a mask.
Pope Francis (83) held his first general audience in the Vatican with believers present since the outbreak of the corona pandemic. While the around 500 guests had to wear a face mask on Wednesday in the otherwise inaccessible Damasushof of the Apostolic Palace, the head of the Catholic Church himself did not wear a mouth and nose cover. He also shook hands and blessed the believers. In his address, he emphasized the importance of solidarity in the Corona crisis.
Francis had stopped his public appearances at the beginning of March because of the Corona outbreak. At 83 years of age and his previous illnesses, he is missing part of a lung, one of the risk group of people particularly at risk in the Covid 19 pandemic. In addition to the public general audience, the Pope has also resumed his Sunday prayer at the window of the Papal Palace. However, his travel activities are still on hold. The Vatican had canceled all visiting trips for 2020.