For the past 35 years, Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican has been decked out with tulips, daffodils, roses or orchids donated by the Netherlands (AFP Photo/ Vincenzo PINTO) |
The Hague (AFP) - The Netherlands will this year break a long tradition of supplying the flowers for the pope's Easter address because of the coronavirus outbreak, if it goes ahead at all, organisers said Wednesday.
For the
past 35 years, Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican has been decked out with
tulips, daffodils, roses or orchids donated by the Netherlands, one of the
world's biggest hubs for cut flowers.
"The
developments around coronavirus in Italy are very serious. In consultation with
all concerned parties, it has been decided to cancel the floral decorations for
Saint Peter's Square this year," Paul Deckers, the florist in charge of
the project, said on Twitter.
Last year,
the Easter Sunday address by Pope Francis drew some 70,000 people to the
Vatican, which is in the centre of the Italian capital Rome.
However,
Italy is now under national lockdown after becoming the epicentre of the European
virus outbreak with 631 deaths so far.
"It's
the first time we haven't done it," Deckers told NOS public radio, adding
that it was possible the address could be cancelled altogether.
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