March 2020 On 5 March 2020, the
COVID-19 pandemic reached Vatican City with the diagnosis of "an external individual who had attended the outpatient clinics" for a pre-employment medical exam. The patient was later identified as a priest who had arrived from one of Italy's "red zones", Five people who were in contact with the patient were quarantined as a precaution. The
Vatican Museums were closed from 8 March to 3 April. On 10 March, a day after Italy ordered restrictions on travel, the Holy See, "in coordination with measures introduced by Italian authorities", closed
Saint Peter's Square and
St. Peter's Basilica to tourists from 10 March to 3 April. On 11 March, the Pope offered a virtual general audience for the first time. On 16 March, Francis left Vatican City to visit two churches in Rome. At the
Basilica of St. Mary Major, he prayed before the Byzantine icon known as
Salus Populi Romani, which
Pope Gregory I carried in procession in 593 praying for an end to the
Plague of Justinian. He then walked a half mile to
San Marcello al Corso to pray before a crucifix regarded by Catholics as miraculous. It was carried in procession during the
plague of 1522. On 23 March, the Pope's visit to
Malta scheduled for 31 May was canceled. On 24 March, the Holy See confirmed it knew of 4 cases, adding to that announced earlier 3 employees: 2 who work for the Vatican Museums and 1 who works in the shipping office. On 25 March, the Holy See newspaper ''L'Osservatore Romano'' suspended the production of its printed edition because Italy's restrictions made printing and distribution impossible. It continues to publish online. On 27 March, Pope Francis delivered a special
Urbi et Orbi blessing in an empty Saint Peter's Square praying for the end of coronavirus pandemic before the San Marcello al Corso's miraculous crucifix which was brought there from its usual location two days earlier. On 28 March, the Holy See confirmed 2 more cases, bringing the total to 6 cases. One was an official of the
Secretariat of State who lives at
Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Pope's residence. He was the first patient identified as a Vatican resident. The second new case was a Vatican employee who works with the resident in question. Some 170 other residents and close contacts were tested and their results were negative.
April 2020 On 2 April, the Holy See confirmed its seventh case, an employee who had been self-isolating since mid-March. On 5 April, the Palm Sunday Mass was celebrated inside St. Peter's before a small congregation instead of the thousands that normally fill the square outside. The Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday morning that the clergy of Rome normally attend was postponed. The other liturgies of Holy Week were moved and held, as announced on 27 March, "without the participation of the people". Holy Thursday Mass, which the Pope has for several years celebrated outside the Vatican with refugees or prisoners, was held in St. Peter's; the
washing of feet was omitted. The Good Friday
Way of the Cross, held since 1964 at the
Colosseum, was held in St. Peter's Square; representatives of the Holy See health services were among the few participants. On 8 April, the Holy See announced that another of its employees had been diagnosed with the virus after leaving Rome to assist sick relatives. It reported the status of its 8 cases as: 2 recovered; 1 discharged and recovering at home; 2 in hospital; 3 asymptomatic and self-isolating. On 20 April, the Holy See reported a ninth person tested positive and was hospitalized for observation. Apparently another employee, he had only been at work once in the previous two weeks and no cases had been identified among his contacts that day. On 30 April, the Holy See reported an eleventh person tested positive, an employee who had symptoms during the first half of March and isolated.
May 2020 On 2 May, the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity announced a day for fasting, prayers, and supplications for the good of all humanity on Thursday 14 May, and invites all religious leaders and peoples around the world to participate. On 6 May, the Holy See reported that a 12th person tested positive, an employee who had been
remote working since the beginning of March. His case is not counted in the Vatican's COVID-19 tally.
October 2020 In October, 4
Swiss guards tested positive for COVID-19, in addition to 3 other cases in Vatican City. Later in the month, 7 more Swiss guards tested positive for COVID-19. On 14 January, it was confirmed that both Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis had received their first doses of the
COVID-19 vaccine, with their followup doses expected in three weeks. They received their second dose in February. ==Preventive measures==