Pope Francis thanks 'angelic' doctors in his first post-lockdown audience

On Saturday, Pope Francis held his first audience post-coronavirus. He granted this audience to the healthcare workers of the country, who, he believes, have been one of the strongest support pillars of the society in these tough times.

"You were one of the supporting pillars of the entire country," he told doctors and nurses from the Lombardy region gathered in the Vatican's frescoed Clementine Hall, which had not been used for months because of the crisis.

Also read: Pope Francis calls for help to end Libyan civil war

"To those of you here and to your colleagues all across Italy go my esteem and my sincere thanks, and I know very well I am interpreting everyone's sentiments," he said.

Thanking the doctors for their selfless efforts, he talked about how these frontline workers event gave their pwn phones to the coronavirus patients to let them say goodbye to their loved ones, before breathing their last breath.

He called these doctors angels for helping the society so selflessly in such tough times.

Also watch: 'Education is listening and celebrating life', Pope Francis says in video conference with Latin first ladies

All the attendees were wearing masks and had maintained social distance from each other. At the end the meeting, the Pope posed for a picture with the doctors calling it "the liturgy of the greeting". While bidding them farewell, the Pope greeted them from a distance as he passed down the aisle.

He has also resumed mas service, capping the maximum capacity to 50 people.

Italy is slowly returning back to the normal life, after losing almost 35,000 people, including over 170 healthcare workers, to the novel coronavirus.