Pope Urges Faster Vaccine Distribution, Slams Fighting During Pandemic In Easter Message

Pope Francis has urged countries to quicken the distribution of
COVID-19 vaccines, particularly to the world’s poor.

The pontiff described armed conflict and military spending
during a pandemic as “scandalous’’.

He gave the advice in his Easter message on Sunday.

“I urge the entire international community, in a spirit of
global responsibility, to commit to overcoming delays in the
distribution of vaccines and to facilitate their distribution,
especially to the poorest countries,’’ he said.

Coronavirus has meant this has been the second year in a row
that Easter papal services have been attended by small gatherings
at a secondary altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, instead of by crowds
in the church or in the square outside.

After saying the Mass, Francis read his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the
city and the world) message, in which he traditionally reviews
world problems and appeals for peace.

“The pandemic is still spreading, while the social and economic
crisis remain severe, especially for the poor.

“Nonetheless and this is scandalous, armed conflicts have not
ended and military arsenals are being strengthened,’’ he said.

Francis, who would normally have given the address to up to
100,000 people in St. Peter’s Square, spoke to fewer than 200 in
the church while the message was broadcast to tens of millions
around the world.

The square was empty, except for a few police officers enforcing
a strict three-day national lockdown.

At one point, nearly nine thousand people were simultaneously
celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection with the Pope on Vatican News’
English-language Facebook page alone.

Over 170 broadcast networks and media outlets picked up the
Easter broadcasts, which has seen much wider coverage in recent
years due to live-streaming.

The Vatican this year also added a service in sign language.

On this holiest of Christian feasts, Pope Francis chose not to
multiply words but to reflect in silence on the mystery of Christ’s
Resurrection from the dead.

In place of a homily, he led the faithful in silent prayer
following the proclamation of the Gospel of John (20:1-9), which
was chanted in both Latin and Greek.

The Pope asked God to comfort the sick, those who have lost
their loved ones and the unemployed.

He urged authorities to give families in greatest need a “decent
sustenance’’.

He praised the medical workers, sympathised with young people
who are unable to attend school and said everyone was called to
combat the pandemic.

“There are still too many wars and too much violence in the
world! May the Lord, who is our peace, help us to overcome the
mindset of war,’’ Francis, who has often called for disarmament and
a total ban on the possession of nuclear weapons, said.

Noting that it was International Awareness Day against
anti-personnel landmines, he called such weapons “insidious and
horrible devices … how much better our world would be without these
instruments of death!’’

In mentioning conflict areas, he singled out for praise “the
young people of Myanmar committed to supporting democracy and
making their voices heard peacefully’’.

More than 550 protesters have been killed since a Feb. 1
military coup in Myanmar, which the Pope visited in 2017.

Francis called for peace in several conflict areas in Africa,
including the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia and the Cabo
Delgado province of Mozambique.

He said the crisis in Yemen has been met with a deafening and
scandalous silence.

He appealed to Israelis and Palestinians to “rediscover the
power of dialogue’’ to reach a two-state solution where both can
live side by side in peace and prosperity.

Francis said he realised that many Christians were still
persecuted and called for all restrictions on freedom of worship
and religion worldwide to be lifted.

Pope Francis has urged countries to quicken the distribution of
COVID-19 vaccines, particularly to the world’s poor.

The pontiff described armed conflict and military spending
during a pandemic as “scandalous’’.

He gave the advice in his Easter message on Sunday.

“I urge the entire international community, in a spirit of
global responsibility, to commit to overcoming delays in the
distribution of vaccines and to facilitate their distribution,
especially to the poorest countries,’’ he said.

Coronavirus has meant this has been the second year in a row
that Easter papal services have been attended by small gatherings
at a secondary altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, instead of by crowds
in the church or in the square outside.

After saying the Mass, Francis read his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the
city and the world) message, in which he traditionally reviews
world problems and appeals for peace.

“The pandemic is still spreading, while the social and economic
crisis remain severe, especially for the poor.

“Nonetheless and this is scandalous, armed conflicts have not
ended and military arsenals are being strengthened,’’ he said.

Francis, who would normally have given the address to up to
100,000 people in St. Peter’s Square, spoke to fewer than 200 in
the church while the message was broadcast to tens of millions
around the world.

The square was empty, except for a few police officers enforcing
a strict three-day national lockdown.

At one point, nearly nine thousand people were simultaneously
celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection with the Pope on Vatican News’
English-language Facebook page alone.

Over 170 broadcast networks and media outlets picked up the
Easter broadcasts, which has seen much wider coverage in recent
years due to live-streaming.

The Vatican this year also added a service in sign language.

On this holiest of Christian feasts, Pope Francis chose not to
multiply words but to reflect in silence on the mystery of Christ’s
Resurrection from the dead.

In place of a homily, he led the faithful in silent prayer
following the proclamation of the Gospel of John (20:1-9), which
was chanted in both Latin and Greek.

The Pope asked God to comfort the sick, those who have lost
their loved ones and the unemployed.

He urged authorities to give families in greatest need a “decent
sustenance’’.

He praised the medical workers, sympathised with young people
who are unable to attend school and said everyone was called to
combat the pandemic.

“There are still too many wars and too much violence in the
world! May the Lord, who is our peace, help us to overcome the
mindset of war,’’ Francis, who has often called for disarmament and
a total ban on the possession of nuclear weapons, said.

Noting that it was International Awareness Day against
anti-personnel landmines, he called such weapons “insidious and
horrible devices … how much better our world would be without these
instruments of death!’’

In mentioning conflict areas, he singled out for praise “the
young people of Myanmar committed to supporting democracy and
making their voices heard peacefully’’.

More than 550 protesters have been killed since a Feb. 1
military coup in Myanmar, which the Pope visited in 2017.

Francis called for peace in several conflict areas in Africa,
including the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia and the Cabo
Delgado province of Mozambique.

He said the crisis in Yemen has been met with a deafening and
scandalous silence.

He appealed to Israelis and Palestinians to “rediscover the
power of dialogue’’ to reach a two-state solution where both can
live side by side in peace and prosperity.

Francis said he realised that many Christians were still
persecuted and called for all restrictions on freedom of worship
and religion worldwide to be lifted.