Pilgrims Bitten by Snakes at Paraguay Papal Mass

At least 14 people have been bitten by snakes and had to be attended by medics during a Mass conducted by Pope Francis in the Paraguayan city of Asuncion.

The snakebites occurred despite authorities fumigating the muddy grounds of an air force base to protect more than one million pilgrims who attended Sunday’s Mass.
while no one died, the incidents highlighted the difficulties many of the pilgrims had to go through to attend the service.

“They came from all over Paraguay and tens of thousands from neighbouring Argentina, the pope’s home country, too,” she said.
“They were also at risk of getting dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases, which are especially common during the rainy season.”

According to reports, many people had spent the previous night at the venue to try to secure a good position to see the Pope, who is from Argentina and the first Latin American to head the Roman Catholic Church.