On Thursday, March 26, an Italian clergyman of the See of Rome who lives in the same residence as Pope Francis was reported to have tested positive for COVID-19 and is now in the hospital.
Several Italian newspapers with reputable sources in the Vatican reported that the cleric has lived for years in Saint Martha’s guest house.
Meanwhile, the Pope is said to have remained largely secluded at his own residence since coming down with a cold at the end of February.
Pope Francis has a small house in the building and that is also where he takes his meals.
The pontiff also holds private meetings there and occasionally moves to the Vatican library to record live-streamed messages to the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.
Italian newspaper La Stampa reported that the Pope has been “eating alone in his room for some time” as a precaution.
“He spends much of his time in his apartment, and when he moves inside the residence, he keeps the necessary safe distances,” La Stampa wrote.
The clergyman who tested positive was left unidentified.
Reports say that the necessary steps to disinfect the area have been taken already.
The official Vatican News website reported that there are four positive COVID-19 cases in the city state.
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