The Italian spouses will be able to kiss again at the altar without masks after the obligation to use them at the time of the celebration was canceled, the Episcopal Conference reported this Saturday Italyand (CEI).
Instead, the indication remains for the priest to protect their airways and maintain a distance of at least one meter from the newlyweds who are getting married, the CEI specified when giving an account of the answer given by the Ministry of the Interior of that country to a question on the matter raised by the Italian bishops.
“Since they certainly cannot consider themselves foreign to each other, the spouses can avoid wearing masks, taking care that the officiant (priest) maintains the use of the respiratory protection device and respects the physical distance of at least one meter”, pointed out the Scientific Technical Committee (CTS), where the Interior portfolio transferred the consultation.
The CTS also believes that this recommendation can be extended to the celebration of marriage, according to the civil ceremony or according to the liturgies of other religious denominations, the ANSA agency specified.
New standards in Italy
Meanwhile, next Sunday new rules will come into force in Italy for other religious celebrations, which is why Priests no longer required to wear gloves disposable for the distribution of communion.
Regarding the request for “repeal the obligation of gloves when distributing Communion”, the Scientific Technical Committee recommended that the priest “proceed to scrupulously clean your hands with hydroalcoholic solutions.”
Too it was suggested to the faithful to wash their hands before taking the offering and in any case, the recommendation of the experts remains avoid communion directly in the mouth and, on the contrary, hand it over.
At mass, the moment of communion is “one of the most critical phases” for the risk of infection but “he improper use of gloves can instill a false sense of security“ It may facilitate the spread of the virus rather than prevent it, experts added.
Therefore, when not wearing gloves, it will be necessary to pay more attention, since the celebrant’s hands should not come into contact with those of the faithful.
– .
