Churches in France reopened and resumed Masses on May 24, 2020 after more than two months of lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Christians flocked to various churches to hear Mass but under strict health protocols. Weeks before reopening, church leaders prepared places of worship to follow government rules. Authorities warned the public that non-compliance with the policies will result in closing of churches again, reports LifeSite News.
Every bishop must see with his priests which churches can open right away and which need more time to get organized. —Fr. Thierry Magnin, Bishops’ Conference of France spokesman
In addition to mandatory wearing of face masks, safety guidelines include giving space of not less than 4 square meters per churchgoer, organizing seating arrangements and providing hand sanitizing stations at the church entrance.
Since about 25% of churchgoers are allowed inside a church, up to three Masses are added to the usual schedule to accommodate believers. Some churches have an extra Mass on Saturday and two additional services on Sunday. For churches with big attendance, online registration is required for those who want to hear Mass.
Despite the official decree, some churches decided to postpone their reopening to the public for another week. “Every bishop must see with his priests which churches can open right away and which need more time to get organized,” said Fr. Thierry Magnin, Bishops’ Conference of France spokesman.
France’s Council of State ordered the reopening of places of worship since prohibiti