Pope Francis says he is in line to take Covid-19 vaccine From CNN’s Nicola Ruotolo in Rome and John Allen Pope Francis holds a thurible as he leads a Christmas Eve mass to mark the nativity of Jesus Christ on December 24, 2020, at St Peter's basilica in the Vatican. Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis has said the Vatican will begin Covid-19 vaccinations next week and that he is in line to receive the jab. Pope Francis made the comments during an interview with Italy's Canale 5 channel, set to air on Sunday night. “It is an ethical duty to take the vaccine, here in the Vatican we will start next week, I am also in line to take it,” he said, according to a news anchor for the channel in a preview of the interview, which was released Saturday.