Pope Francis has met with the Spanish prime minister at the Vatican, but neither man wore a mask during the public part of their meeting.
That’s despite 13 Swiss Guards and someone staying at the same Vatican City guest house where Francis lives recently testing positive for the coronavirus.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wore a mask when he arrived in a Vatican courtyard, but everyone sat unmasked immediately before and after his closed-door talks with Francis.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, center, leaves the San Damaso courtyard after his meeting with Pope Francis, at the Vatican, Saturday, October 24, 2020. (AP/Alessandra Tarantino)
Spain this week became the first country in Western Europe with more than 1 million confirmed virus cases.
The Vatican says Sanchez also spoke with the Holy See’s foreign minister, discussing matters including “the current health emergency, the process of European integration and migration.”
In his speech, Francis calls politics “an act of charity, nobility” and says the mission of a politician is to help a nation to progress. The pontiff also says it’s “very sad” when ideologies drive the destiny of a nation.
— AP
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