Pope Francis and former Pope Benedict had received their first dose of a vaccine against COVID-19, the Vatican confirmed Thursday.

The Vatican did not disclose the exact time and date of when the two religious leaders were vaccinated. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus were the first to receive the vaccine under the Vatican City State's vaccine program.

The 84-year-old head of the Catholic Church and his 93-year-old predecessor are among those at higher risk of contracting the virus and succumbing to its symptoms due to their age.

The Vatican began its vaccine program earlier in the week, inoculating members of the church and residents at a medical center set up inside the city's main Auditorium Hall - where the pope holds his weekly audiences.

Pope Francis has been vocal about his stance on the vaccine and the coronavirus. Over the weekend, the pope said that he was planning to be vaccinated and that it was an "ethical duty" for everyone to do the same.

"I believe that ethically everyone should take the vaccine. It is not an option, it is an ethical choice because you are gambling with your health, with your life, but you are also gambling with the lives of others," Pope Francis said Sunday.

Earlier in the month, Pope Francis had called on all countries to "share vaccines" and make the treatment available to everyone. He also directly addressed companies and international bodies to work together to find a solution to the crisis. He urged everyone to prioritize the "vulnerable and needy."

Several members of the Vatican leadership are advanced in years and are therefore at high risk. Over the weekend, the Vatican said that the pope's personal doctor, Fabrizio Soccorsi, had died due to COVID-19 complications. The 78-year-old doctor had been the pope's personal physician since 2015.

News of Soccorsi's death had raised some concerns over the pope's health. The Vatican did not say when he was last in direct contact with the pope. Soccorsi was hospitalized in Rome the day after Christmas and had a pre-existing illness.