an archbishop who celebrated a mass with Pope Francis tested positive for coronavirus

Jan Babják, Greek-Catholic Archbishop of Presov, Slovakia, contracted coronavirus, but the alarms have sounded even in the Vatican, since the Grand Prelate concelebrated Mass and held several meetings with Pope Francis on Tuesday 14 in Presov, during the Pontiff’s apostolic tour last week through Hungary and Slovakia.

Archdiocesan officials immediately informed the Slovak Bishops’ Conference yesterday, which in turn alerted the Holy See, that kept silent until now. All the bishops who were in contact with Monsignor Babják last Tuesday have also been warned.

It was in turn reported that the Archbishop had received both doses against Covid-19 who have completed their vaccination plan. He started showing the first symptoms of what he believed to be a cold three or four days ago. Doctors finally verified that it was a new infection in the pandemic that is hitting the planet.

According to the Archbishopric of Presov, Bishop Babják showed mild symptoms of the disease, surely aided by the vaccination of vaccines.

The 68-year-old Slovak and Francisco “They exchanged the sign of peace during the liturgy and after the celebration they spoke for a while in Italian”recalled Michal Pavlisinovic, spokesperson for the Archieparchy of Presov. And he added that “they weren’t together for lunch.”

This Monday Italy started mass vaccination with a third dose to strengthen immune defenses, which according to studies in the United States and Israel decrease between four and six months after administration of the vaccine.

It was not reported whether the Pope received a third-dose booster injection before the trip to Budapest and Slovakia, which began on Sunday 12 and ended on Wednesday 15. Scientists say the booster is leveling off at a very high level and for a long time the body’s defenses against the virus.

A healthy tour

Pope Francis, 84, returned to Rome last Wednesday from Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, after a triumphant tour that strengthened him in power by his good physical performance, who has kept versions of a resignation on the horizon. Also because after a year and a half of the pandemic, Jorge Bergoglio was able to return to the crowd toilet. This bad news again sowed doubt.

In the morning, he concluded his four-day tour of Slovakia, one of the poorest countries in the European Union, with 5.5 million inhabitants, 60% of whom are devout Catholics.

Welcomed with enthusiasm by a crowd on the day the country celebrated the day dedicated to the Virgin of the Seven Sorrows, patroness of Slovakia, Jorge Bergoglio traveled 70 kilometers from Bratislava, the capital, to the sanctuary of Sastin dedicated to the Virgin Mary . , and traveled with the popemobile the roads of the place, with 60,000 faithful who acclaimed him.

The Argentine Pope displayed splendid humor and also showed during this appointment that he was in good health, that he spoke on his feet and had conversations with the people. without looking tired.

Bergoglio was operated on on July 4 in Rome, at Gemelli hospital, for an infection of diverticula that forced surgeons to remove 33 centimeters of intestine and remained hospitalized, recovering ten days before returning to the Vatican.

Doctors advised him to read his speeches while sitting and not to tire. Bergoglio complied, but showed that the convalescence period is over. Doctors and two nurses from the Vatican accompanied him at all times during the trip.

Vatican, correspondent

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