The Vatican issued a decree that employees who do not receive the COVID-19 vaccine would lose their jobs before withdrawing from the statement amid widespread criticism.
The edict of Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, the governor of the Vatican City, on February 8, said that workers who refused to be vaccinated without sufficient reasons would be subject to a 2011 law requiring “various degrees of consequences that could lead to dismissal “.
Thousands of workers move to the small town-state from Italy and many Italians went on social media to criticize the order, calling it uncompassionate and at odds with Pope Francis ’teachings.
On Thursday night, Bertello said “alternative solutions” would be found for government employees who refuse to receive the vaccine.
Some abortion advocates have ethical objections to coronavirus vaccines created with stem cells.
In December, Vatican officials supported COVID-19 inoculations in a statement saying, “It is morally acceptable to receive Covid-19 vaccines that have used aborted fetal cell lines in their research and production process.” .
Pope Francis received his first shot alongside former Pope Benedict in January, when the Vatican launched its vaccination program against COVID-19.
The fragile leader of the Catholic Church has demanded that journalists covering the trip to Iraq next month receive the vaccine.
Only about 800 people live in the 108-acre nation, which has seen fewer than 30 cases of coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic; most among the Swiss guard, who live in a communal barracks.
With publishing cables