The Pope speaks in favor of vaccines and against disinformation in his speech on the “state of the world”

The Pope Francisco on Monday condemned “baseless” ideological misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, endorsing national inoculation campaigns and calling health care a moral obligation.

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Francis spoke in his annual address to the accredited diplomatic corps at the Vatican, sometimes called his “state of the world” address because it is a comprehensive study of the world situation.

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His words to diplomats in nearly 200 countries marked the closest he has come to de facto endorsement of vaccination mandates, which have become controversial in Italy and other European countries.

“We have realized that in places where an effective vaccination campaign has been carried out, the risk of a serious advance of the disease has decreased,” he said. “It is important that efforts continue to immunize the population as much as possible.”

Francisco, who devoted about a fifth of his six-page speech to the pandemic, warned against ideological statements regarding vaccination.

“Unfortunately, more and more we see how we live in a world of strong ideological contrasts. Many times we allow ourselves to be influenced by the ideology of the moment, often based on unsubstantiated news or poorly documented facts, “he said.

“Vaccines are not magic healing instruments, but they certainly represent, together with the treatments that are being developed, the most reasonable solution for the prevention of the disease,” he told diplomats gathered in the Hall of Blessings, along with the Vatican frescoes.

By saying that “health care constitutes a moral obligation” in the context of a speech in support of vaccines, Francis appeared to respond to Catholics and other Christians, particularly in the United States, who say they have a right to conscientious objection. to vaccines based on religion.

Francisco, who is fully vaccinated, called for a global political commitment to “seek the good of the population through prevention and immunization decisions.”

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Deshawn