Italy's Catholic Church is reintroducing handshakes for the ‘sign of peace’ during Mass as part of a wider relaxation of anti-COVID-19 measures.
"It will be possible to restore the usual form of exchanging the sign of peace," the Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI) said in a letter to bishops.
The letter, publicised by RAI public broadcaster and other Italian media on Saturday, was originally posted on CEI's website on Friday.
The sign of peace comes after the Lord's Prayer, and before the sacrament of the Holy Communion, as a way for the faithful to express their common faith to one another.
At the height of the pandemic, the gesture was abolished, while last year the CEI said it could resume but only through shared eye contact or a bow of the head.
In its latest advice to bishops, the CEI called for continued precautions, such as inviting the faithful to sanitise their hands upon entering a church.
Italy is one the countries that has been worst-hit by coronavirus, however restrictions have been easing recently.
Face masks have not been compulsory on public transport since October 1.
― With AAP.
