Pope Francis, 84, and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, 93, are now both vaccinated against Covid-19.

In a televised interview broadcast on Sunday evening, François had qualified the opposition to the vaccine of "suicidal denial". 

Pope Francis, 84, and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, 93, are now both vaccinated against Covid-19, the Holy See spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday.

"As part of the vaccination program of the Vatican City State, as of today, the first dose of the vaccine against Covid-19 has been administered to Pope Francis and to the Pope Emeritus," said in a statement the spokesman of the Holy See Matteo Bruni, in response to many requests. 

The Argentine pope received his first vaccine on Wednesday, information announced in the press.

The German Pope Emeritus was in turn vaccinated Thursday morning, as part of the vaccination campaign that began Wednesday for some 5,000 Vatican employees, said the Vatican information portal.

In a televised interview broadcast on Sunday evening, François had qualified opposition to the vaccine as "suicidal denial", highlighting "an ethical choice" essential to protect the lives of others.

Pope Francis, considered a person at risk 

His vaccination will be a relief for those around the Pope, who are reluctant to don a mask and to stay away from the faithful and visitors.

His personal doctor for five years, Fabrizio Soccorsi, died Saturday at the age of 78 following "complications from Covid-19" while he was "hospitalized for a cancerous pathology".

Several prelates around the pope have contracted the virus in recent months.

The leader of the 1.3 billion Catholics is considered a person at risk.

At the age of 21, in 1957, Jorge Bergoglio had suffered from acute pleurisy and surgeons had to partially remove his right lung.

As for the German Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, he has appeared more and more fragile in recent months, moving in a wheelchair, speaking with difficulty.

Since his resignation in 2013, he has lived as a recluse in a monastery in Vatican City.

However, he had made a trip to his native Bavaria in June 2020 to the bedside of his very ill 96-year-old brother, Georg, who died soon after.

But he then suffered for several months from painful shingles on his face.