Coronavirus killing priests who bless the dying in Italy
The diocese of Bergamo northeast of Milan appears to have been ravaged the most by the stealth killer. At least 10 of its priests have died of COVID-19, the Catholic daily Avvenire reported Thursday. The deaths, whether of priests or members of their communities, are “so numerous that it is difficult to count,” the paper wrote. Five more fatalities were registered in the city of Parma. Still more virus-related deaths emerged among priests in Brescia, Cremona, and the northern industrial hub of Milan itself. All these parishes are clustered in Italy’s north, the virus’ target from the day the Catholic country’s first death was reported four weeks ago. More than 3,400 Italians have died of the virus since then. Italy has taken over the grim title of being the global epicenter of the pandemic from China, where COVID-19 was first reported in late December. Like doctors Like doctors, Italy’s priests come in contact with the disease’s most serious cases. And like doctors,