Should Pope Francis be forcing Vatican employees and residents into taking the Covid-19 vaccine? He believes very strongly in them

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Pope Francis discusses Covid-19 vaccine with staff

… the Catholic Church is not a democracy


Many people work work in the Vatican thought that they would have an option as to whether or not they would have to take the Covid-19 vaccine. 


However, while that appeared to be the situation in December, it changed, and the Vatican Secretary of State made that clear in a recent directive,


The Vatican has told its some 5,000 employees and residents they must get the COVID-19 vaccine or face penalties, including dismissal. "Refusing to vaccinate can also pose a risk to others," said Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, head of the Governorate of Vatican City State, in a decree that was issued on February 8. The text, which was not widely publicized until this past week, says such "refusal could seriously increase the risks to public health".


The decree contains 10 articles that list mandatory protocols aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Compulsory vaccinationIt says the Vatican health authorities may "deem it necessary to initiate preventive measures involving the administration of a vaccine to protect the health of its citizens, residents, employees and workforce". 


This concerns especially those who do "public service" jobs, deal with outside parties or are a health risk to the work environment. The decree effectively makes vaccination mandatory for Vatican residents and employees, stating only a "proven health reason" could justify refusal to be inoculated against the virus.


Loup Besmond de Senneville, “Vatican employees who refuse vaccine risk

 losing their jobs,” La-Croix International, February 19, 2021


Those who refuse could be dismissed


The Vatican is playing hardball on this decision,


The reality is that this is not a simple choice for those who might want to decline taking the shot,


Penalties for those who refuse the vaccine are particularly severe.


The provision for dismissal dates back to a 2008 decree that was issued during the H1N1 flu pandemic. The text -- which was signed by then-Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and updated in 2011 -- states the following:"


The refusal to undergo preventive or periodic examinations and routine health checks, as well as the renunciation of the continuation of preventive, periodic or already started examinations, have consequences for employees in varying degrees that can go as far as the termination of the employment relationship".It further states: "For job applicants, this is equivalent to a waiver of the establishment of the employment relationship."


Loup Besmond de Senneville, La-Croix International, February 19, 2021


Change was a surprise


Although there was not much fanfare about this, it came as a surprise to most of those affected by the decision,


The previsions in the recent decree issued by Cardinal Bertello came as a surprise to many because the Vatican -- including Pope Francis -- had indicated early on that employees would have the option to get vaccinated or not.And on the night of February 18, the cardinal's office issued a statement reiterating that. It said that "alternative solutions" would be found for those who do not want to get the vaccine and that the 2011 decree should not be seen as "sanctioning or punitive". Rather, the new note said, "freedom of individual choice" would be respected.


Only those who frequently have direct contact with the pope have been required to get the jab.


Vatican office heads were contacted in mid-December to receive an appointment for their vaccination. 


Employees and residents who signed up were also given a date to be inoculated against Covid."Some of them didn't register"


"Then in early January, we all received a phone call to make an appointment, including those who hadn't registered," said a Vatican employee who asked not to be identified.


"Some people didn't register and didn't follow up, but there was a sense that this was turning into something mandatory. Obviously, some are resisting. We have 'anti-vaxxers' here, too," the same source said.


Loup Besmond de Senneville, La-Croix International, February 19, 2021


The vaccinations started in January and the Vatican said that everyone had a moral responsibility to take the vaccination. 


Should this be done? The reality is that the Catholic Church is not a democracy and its workers do not have union representation. So, this may mean that some people, perhaps some higher-ups, may lose their jobs if they refuse to do so. 


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