Caracas, Venezuela, Dec 15, 2021 / 13:45 pm
The Venezuelan bishops’ conference published new statistics showing that since the beginning of the pandemic 45 priests and four bishops have died from COVID-19.
The conference noted that "in the midst of the global crisis caused by the pandemic, priests are not exempt from the risks of contracting COVID-19," as they carry out their ministry.
"At a time when people more earnestly seek the comfort of the spirit and closeness to the faith … priests offer their service to the Church," the conference said.
The conference published current figures on the priests who were infected and died from the deadly virus. In the report, they noted that between March 2020 and Dec. 13, 2021, 439 priests were infected with COVID-19, a figure that represents 20.77% of the total clergy in the country.