Plus, "we
must also cure a larger virus, that of social injustice, inequality of
opportunity, marginalization”
Pope Francis and the man Donald Trump says will "hurt God." |
"It would be sad if, for the
vaccine for Covid-19, priority were to be given to the richest!" the
Pope said during his
weekly general audience.
"It would be sad if this vaccine were to become the property of this nation or another, rather than universal and for all."
"It would be sad if this vaccine were to become the property of this nation or another, rather than universal and for all."
"And what a scandal it would be
if all the economic assistance we are observing—most of it with public
money—were to focus on rescuing those industries that do not contribute to the
inclusion of the excluded, the promotion of the least, the common good, or the
care of creation," he continued.
The Pope's remarks came as the world's reported positive cases of the virus passed the 22 million mark, with the Americas accounting for 64% of global deaths from Covid-19.
Acknowledging that the pandemic has
"exposed the plight of the poor and the great inequality that reigns in
the world," the religious leader said global citizens must work to rectify
those injustices as the world recovers.
"On the one hand, it is
essential to find a cure for this small but terrible virus which has brought
the whole world to its knees," he said.
"On the other, we must also cure a larger virus, that of social injustice, inequality of opportunity, marginalization, and the lack of protection for the weakest."
"On the other, we must also cure a larger virus, that of social injustice, inequality of opportunity, marginalization, and the lack of protection for the weakest."
Drug manufacturers developing Covid-19 vaccines have come under scrutiny for projected costs of their potential products and political debates continue about whether a vaccine should be made available to the public free of charge.
Australian Prime Minister Scott
Morrison announced Tuesday
that he had made a deal with drugmaker AstraZeneca to supply a potential
Covid-19 vaccine to the entire country's population, though details are
scant.
But Pope Francis warned that the
global response to the virus should not fall along ideological lines.
"This is not a political
option; nor is it an ideological option, a party option… no," he said.
"The preferential option for the poor is at the center of the
Gospel."
On life after Covid-19, Pope Francis
declared that a new "normality" must include transforming systemic
injustices, not simply maintain the status quo.
"We are all worried about the
social consequences of the pandemic," he said. "Many people want to
return to normality and resume economic activities. Certainly, but this
'normality' should not include social injustices and the degradation of the
environment."
"The pandemic is a crisis, and
we do not emerge from a crisis the same as before," the Pope continued.
"Either we come out of it better, or we come out of it worse. We must come
out of it better, to counter social injustice and environmental damage. Today
we have an opportunity to build something different."