The Vatican explained why Francis does not want everyone to kiss his papal ring

The controversy surrounding the broadcast of a video in which Pope Francis had notoriously prevented a dozen faithful from kissing his ring had forced the Vatican to give an official explanation about it.

According to the spokesman of the Holy See, Alessandro Gisotti, the Catholic leader made this decision "for hygiene", to prevent the spread of germs when the group of people who must say hello is very numerous.

This was explained Thursday by Vatican Spokesman, Alessandro Gisotti, putting an end to the mystery as to why the Pope removed his hand when he greeted the faithful in the Loreto Sanctuary (Italy), as shown by the images that filled the networks.

(Video: the Pope removed the hand again and again before the attempts of the parishioners)

Gisotti took advantage when he saw Francisco to tell him the curiosity that this gesture had caused and the pope explained that when there is a large group of people who must say hello to the same place, he prefers, as a precaution, not to kiss the papal ring to prevent the spread of germs.

Francisco pointed out that He likes to cuddle and be kissed by people, but he also fears that they will get sick.

The Vatican spokesman said the faithful had embraced the pope's ring several times, as did the nun María Concetta Esu, 85, a missionary to Africa for nearly 60 years, when the Pope introduced her to the faithful of the audience.

Known as the "fisherman's ring"In honor of the Apostle Peter, who was a fisherman and eventually first pope, the hoop worn by Francisco is silver and gilded, with an image of St. Peter holding the keys to the Holy See. Each pope chooses his own ringwhich is destroyed at the end of his papacy as a symbol of the end of the reign of each pontiff.

For most critics of the pontificate, who take advantage of all the gestures to attack him, the video is further proof that Francisco does not like people. For other, less critical, like Vida Nueva magazine, he wanted to show that he did not like the formalities and that he wanted to be treated like another religious without ostentation.

(With EFE information)