Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State and N° 2 of the Vatican, as well as his deputy, tested positive for Covid-19, we learned on Tuesday January 18 from the Vatican press room.
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Bishop Parolin, 67, “
has tested positive for Covid, but with mild symptoms, and is currently in solitary confinement
,” press room director Matteo Bruni told reporters. Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, substitute Venezuelan Archbishop for the Secretariat of State, also tested positive and is asymptomatic, he added. Both are vaccinated against the virus. Pope Francis, 85, himself vaccinated, frequently meets Bishop Parolin, his right arm, a fine connoisseur of diplomatic files.
The Argentine pontiff is a fervent defender of vaccination, but regularly appears without a mask during public ceremonies and does not hesitate to approach the faithful or his interlocutors and shake their hands.
Since January 10, wearing an FFP2 type mask has been compulsory for all Vatican employees, and the vaccination pass will be required from January 31.