Pope pays surprise visit to Vatican vaccine centre for homeless people

Pope Francis visited the Vatican’s vaccination centre for the poor and homeless on Good Friday.

Francis, 84, surprised doctors, nurses, charity workers and those getting their jabs when he arrived at the pop-up clinic.

The makeshift centre has been set up in the Vatican audience hall to give free vaccines to homeless people or those in need.

The Holy See bought thousands of doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab to vaccinate Vatican employees and their families and are giving out leftovers to people living in poverty.

About 800 people have been vaccinated at the clinic so far, with a further 400 doses still to be administered.

The pontiff wore a mask for his visit and posed for a picture with staff and recipients.

He has already had his coronavirus jab along with former Pope Benedict, 93.

Francis has said that getting immunised from COVID-19 is the “ethical choice” unless there are specific medical reasons not to do so.

The pope’s visit to the vaccine clinic was set to be followed by the Way of the Cross procession in St Peter’s Square, which usually takes place at the Colosseum but has been relocated due to the pandemic.

© Sky News 2021