Public masses that will resume in Italy from 18 May

The dioceses in Italy can resume the celebration of public Masses starting on Monday 18 May, under the conditions issued on Thursday by the head of the Italian bishops and government officials.

The protocol for mass and other liturgical celebrations states that churches must limit the number of people present - ensuring a distance of one meter (three feet) - and congregates must wear face masks. The church must also be cleaned and disinfected between celebrations.

For the distribution of the Eucharist, priests and other ministers of Holy Communion are asked to wear gloves and masks that cover both the nose and the mouth and to avoid contact with the hands of the communicants.

The diocese of Rome suspended public masses on March 8 due to the coronavirus epidemic. Several dioceses in Italy hit hard, including Milan and Venice, had suspended public liturgies as early as the last week of February.

All public religious celebrations, including baptisms, funerals and marriages, were prohibited during the blockade of the Italian government, which entered into force on March 9th.

The funeral was re-authorized starting May 4. Public baptisms and weddings can now also resume in Italy starting from May 18.

The protocol issued on May 7 establishes general indications for compliance with health measures, such as indicating a maximum capacity in a church based on maintaining at least one meter distance between people.

Access to the church must be regulated to control the number present, he says, and the number of masses can be increased to ensure social distancing.

The church should be cleaned and disinfected after each celebration and the use of worship aids such as hymns is discouraged.

The doors of the church must be open before and after mass to encourage traffic flow and hand sanitizers must be available at the entrances.

Among other suggestions, the peace sign should be omitted and the holy water sources kept empty, the protocol says.

The protocol was signed by the president of the Italian episcopal conference, cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, by the prime minister and president of the council Giuseppe Conte, and by the interior minister Luciana Lamorgese.

A note states that the protocol was prepared by the Italian episcopal conference and examined and approved by the government's technical-scientific committee for COVID-19.

On April 26, the Italian bishops had criticized Conte for not lifting the ban on public masses.

In a statement, the episcopal conference denounced Conte's decree on "phase 2" of the Italian restrictions on the coronavirus, which stated that "it arbitrarily excludes the possibility of celebrating Mass with the people".

The prime minister's office replied later the same night indicating that a protocol would be studied to allow "the faithful to participate in liturgical celebrations as soon as possible in conditions of maximum security".

The Italian bishops released a statement on May 7 stating that the protocol to restart public Masses "concludes a path that has seen the collaboration between the Italian Bishops' Conference, the Prime Minister, the Minister of the Interior".