Two cardinals from the close circle of Pope Francis, a Pole and an Italian, have been infected with the coronavirus.
The Pole Cardinal, Konrad Krajewski, who is responsible for the Pope’s charity work, “was diagnosed with COVID-19,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed today. The 57-year-old cardinal, who has developed symptoms of pneumonia, is hospitalised in Rome, the Vatican spokesman added. The Holy See is now trying to find the people with whom he may have been having contact in recent days.
He was given the nickname “Robin Hood” for his very active charity work as he has been helping the poor and homeless and, therefore, he had been having very regular meetings with Pope Francis.
The Italian cardinal who was tested positive for the coronavirus is Giuseppe Bertello, 78 years old, is the head of the Vatican’s executive branch on behalf of the pope.
The news was revealed by the Italian press and a Holy See source confirmed it to the AFP.
Although there were daily announcements on the pope’s official meetings with the aforementioned officials, Pope Francis also had been having many private meetings at his residence in Santa Marta.
Source: ANA-MPA