Coronavirus Updates: Pope Francis' mask controversy

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ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Thursday, October 22, 2020
Pope Francis wears a mask during mass
The pope was seen not wearing a mask while shaking bishops' hands.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Pope Francis has gone back to his mask-less old ways during his general audience at the Vatican despite surging coronavirus infections across Europe.

Francis shunned a facemask during his Wednesday public audience in the Vatican auditorium, and remained mask-less when he greeted a half-dozen bishops at the end. He shook hands and leaned in to chat privately with each one.

The pope himself donned a facemask in public for the first time during a liturgical service on Tuesday. Vatican regulations now require facemasks to be worn indoors and out where distancing can't be "always guaranteed."

At age 83 and with part of a lung missing, the pope would be at high-risk for COVID-19 complications.

The pope was seen not wearing a mask while shaking bishops' hands.

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