Vatican relaxes vaccine mandate, masking rules June 3, 2022By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican updated its COVID-19 protocols, allowing most employees and visitors to enter Vatican City State without a vaccination certificate or proof of recovery. In a decree published June 2 by the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said that “entry to the dicasteries, bodies and offices that make up the Roman Curia and the institutions connected with the Holy See is permitted without the obligation” of having the vaccine certificate known as a “super green pass.” In Italy, the “super green pass” was given only to people who were fully vaccinated or recently recovered from the disease, thus placing even more restrictions on those who were unvaccinated without medical reason. However, the decree stated that the vaccine mandate “remained in effect for the Pontifical Swiss Guards.” Cardinal Parolin also eased the Vatican’s mask requirements, decreeing that wearing masks indoors or in large gatherings, while no longer required, “is strongly recommended.” Nevertheless, “the obligation to comply with health requirements regarding hand sanitation and the frequent ventilation and periodic sanitization of rooms remains,” the decree said. Unvaccinated employees who have had contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 are allowed to return to their offices after a 10-day quarantine period and a negative test result. However, vaccinated employees who have had contact with someone who is positive can go to work immediately but they are required to wear high-filtering FFP2 masks indoors, it said. – – – Follow Arocho on Twitter: @arochoju Read More Vatican Pope’s communications day theme targets pitfalls of the ‘attention economy’ Pope Leo XIV says he’s not losing sleep over AI apocalypse fears Vatican’s top diplomat pushes 2-state solution, ‘limits’ on AI at UN General Assembly Wrapping up France visit, Pope Leo calls on Europe to choose reconciliation over division At Lourdes, a refuge for the ill, Pope Leo stands against assisted dying laws Pope Leo XIV leads thousands in candlelight rosary procession in Lourdes Copyright © 2022 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
