Pontifical Irish College, Rome Access to the Sunday Mass at Rome’s Pontifical Irish College has been confined to members of the college community as concerns around coronavirus restrict life in the eternal city.
Students in the college were given the options to stay on or return to Ireland and The Irish Catholic understands that the majority have opted to stay.
However, a group of more than a dozen American seminarians who were living in the college have been withdrawn back to the US on the orders of their university.
It is understood that the remaining students were given the option to return to Ireland since the Roman universities are closed. Students who have decided to remain were made aware that they are doing so with the understanding that if the virus does hit the community, everyone will be quarantined for a fortnight.
The Irish Catholic understands that contingency plans have already been put in place by the college authorities to ensure that there is an adequate supply of food and other provisions in case of a lockdown situation.
Overseas
There are currently six Irish seminarians in the college, with two other seminarians from overseas dioceses. The community of postgraduate priests is around 35 – two of them are Irish. There are also four Irish priests on staff.
All public Masses have been cancelled across Italy in a bid to slow down the spread of the virus. However, the Cardinal Vicar of Rome has ordered that churches remain open so that people may pray in them. Worshippers are recommended to stay at least a metre apart from one another.
On Tuesday, March 10, the Italian civil authorities announced that a lockdown that was in place in the north would be imposed nationwide.
Many restaurants and cafes in Rome are imposing a 6pm curfew and people are being asked to avoid gathering in public places.