As Italy grapples with surging COVID-19 numbers brought on by the Omicron variant, an Italian bishop has forbidden unvaccinated priests, deacons, and lay persons from administering Communion. The direction comes as the Italian government is tightening restrictions on the unvaccinated.
Bishop Giacomo Cirulli released the statement on January 8. The open letter to the faithful of his southern Italian diocese announced the new guidance, while reiterating previous COVID-19 precautions. Catholic News Agency translated the letter from Italian:
Pandemic precautions
Along with distancing and wearing a mask, the diocese is continuing to prohibit the sign of peace, and they have kept their holy water fonts dry. Bishop Cirulli also made it clear that consecrated hosts must be kept covered in their sacred vessels while on the altar.
While much of Italian life now requires proof of vaccination, or of recovery from COVID-19, these precautions have not yet extended to houses of worship. Catholic educators, be they in school or private catechism teachers, must abide by the government-mandated protocols. According to CNS, these mandates also extend to Catholic students and seminarians as well.
The bishop touched upon the topic of vaccination in his letter:
Surging cases
These precautions were put in place to help stem the spread of the Omicron variant, but they may be the first of many Church mandates in the coming months. Reuters reports Italy’s pandemic is back in full swing, with recent data showing a reported 101,762 new cases and 227 additional deaths over a 24-hour period. As of January 10, there were an estimated 1,606 COVID-19 patients in intensive care.
In response to the surge in cases, the government has aimed restrictions at the unvaccinated, barring them from restaurants, bars, and public transportation. Those who wish to utilize such stores and services must present a “Super Green Pass” which acts as proof of vaccination or of having recovered from COVID-19. Italian authorities have made these passes mandatory for all persons over the age of 50.
Of the unvaccinated, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said in a statement:
