Pope tells Italian Army officers to remove their Covid masks as they pose for a photo at the Vatican
- Pictures show the Pope turning slightly behind him to speak to the Italian Army and telling them to take their masks off
- Once the masks had been removed the group then faced forward and had their pictures taken during a meeting at the Vatican
- The officers had arrived at the Vatican for the Pope’s weekly general audience at the Paul VI Hall on Wednesday
Pope Francis on Wednesday asked Italian Army officers to remove their Covid masks while they posed for a photograph at the Vatican.
Pictures show the Pope turning slightly behind him to speak to the Italian Army and telling them to take their masks off.
Once the masks had been removed the group then faced forward and had their pictures taken during a meeting at the Vatican.
The officers had arrived at the Vatican for the Pope’s weekly general audience at the Paul VI Hall on Wednesday.
Pope Francis on Wednesday asked Italian Army officers to remove their Covid masks while they posed for a photograph at the Vatican
Once the masks had been removed the group then faced forward and had their pictures taken during a meeting at the Vatican
The officers had arrived at the Vatican for the Pope’s weekly general audience at the Paul VI Hall on Wednesday
It comes after the Pope was criticised back in 2020 for rarely wearing a face mask and only wearing one for the first time in October – seven months after the coronavirus outbreak.
Previously he wore masks only in a car taking him to his weekly audiences in the Vatican.
The pope took off his mask while he read his address, as did other leaders when they spoke, but put it back on when he finished speaking.
During the Wednesday audience Pope Francis asked people around the world to remember Ukrainians in underground shelters seeking protection from bombardments and thanked Poland for taking in the bulk of refugees from the war.
It comes after the Pope was criticised back in 2020 for rarely wearing a face mask and only wearing one for the first time in October – seven months after the coronavirus outbreak
Francis spoke at his weekly general audience on Ash Wednesday, which he has declared a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Ukraine
Pope Francis poses with Italian Army officers during the weekly general audience on Ash Wednesday in Paolo VI Hall at Vatican
Francis spoke at his weekly general audience on Ash Wednesday, which he has declared a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Ukraine.
After addressing Poles, the pope went off script to say that the Polish translator on the stage with him, Father Marek Viktor Gongalo, is Ukrainian.
‘His parents are now in underground shelters to protect themselves from the bombs in a place near Kyiv,’ the pope said.
‘By accompanying him, we accompany all the people who are suffering from the bombings, including his elderly parents and so many other elderly who are in underground shelters defending themselves. Let us remember these people in our hearts.’
Kyiv residents have been sheltering in metro stations and other underground sites at night, there are long lines for fuel, and some products are running out in shops.
A child makes the sign of the cross on Pope Francis’ forehead as the pontiff touches his head during the weekly general audience at the Vatican
Pope Francis signs a piece paper for a child during his weekly general audience at the Vatican
Italian Army members take pictures of Pope Francis at the weekly general audience at the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican
More than half a million Ukrainians have fled the fighting since the invasion, which Russia calls a special military operation, began, most crossing into Poland and Romania. The European Commission proposed granting temporary residence to Ukrainian refugees.
‘You were the first to support Ukraine, opening your borders, your hearts and the doors of your homes to Ukrainians fleeing war,’ the pope said, addressing Poles through the translator.
‘You are generously offering them everything they need to live in dignity, despite the drama of the moment. I am deeply grateful to you and I bless you from my heart!’ he said.
Francis has called for humanitarian corridors to help refugees leave and said those who make war should not be deluded into thinking that God is on their side.
The Kremlin says its campaign is not designed to occupy territory but to destroy its neighbour’s military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous nationalists.
The Vatican has called for an immediate stop to the attack and said it is ready to ‘facilitate dialogue’ between Russia and Ukraine.
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