The stoups are back and during the celebration of mass it will be possible to return to exchanging the sign of peace, shaking hands . These are the indications contained in the letter that the Presidency of the CEI sent to the Italian bishops.
Therefore, after more than two and a half years of pandemic, the anti-contagion restrictions from Covid are also loosened in churches.
Among the recommendations is also an invitation: " Those with flu symptoms and those who are subjected to isolation because they are positive for SARS-CoV-2 do not participate in the celebrations ", while " it is evaluated , based on the specific circumstances and local conditions, the opportunity to recommend the use of the mask ".
And other indications: "It is recommended to sanitize your hands at the entrance to places of worship "; "it is possible to carry out the offertory processions"; " it is no longer mandatory to ensure the distance between the faithful who participate in the celebrations". Furthermore, "Ministers are advised to sanitize their hands before distributing Communion", and "in the celebration of Baptisms, Confirmations, Ordinations and the Anointing of the Sick, anointing can be carried out without the aid of instruments".
But "taking into account the specific local situations, individual Bishops can, however, adopt more specific measures and indications".
It was the first days of March 2020 when the Italian Bishops' Conference had taken measures to deal with the pandemic , following in the footsteps of the provisions of the Government. The heaviest for the faithful had been the suspension of freely accessible masses.
(Unioneonline/ss)
