Vatican City – On February 8, Pope Francis urged world governments to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, focusing on creating a fairer market economy, addressing the rapidly rising dangers of climate change, and providing basic health care to their citizens.
In an annual speech on foreign policy to the 183 ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, the pope said the pandemic shed light on five crises facing the world and made a choice: either to continue on the path we have followed until now, or to go on a new path. “
Among the elements Francis said would be the new path:
- “Universal access to basic health care.”
- “Fair distribution” of coronavirus vaccines.
- An ‘Effective Agreement’ at the next UN Climate Change Conference, to be held in Glasgow in November, to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
- A rethinking of “the relationship between individuals and the economy.”
At the last point, the pope compares the need for changes to the world market system as the 17th-century realizes that the earth revolves around the sun, saying it’s time for a kind of ‘new Copernican revolution’ that puts the economy at the service of men and women, not the other way around. ‘
In recent months, Francis has repeatedly asked in interviews that world leaders use the coronavirus pandemic as a way to address persistent economic and social inequalities. His February 8 speech, which lasted about 55 minutes, touched on a wide range of other topics.
The speech was held in a larger hall in the Vatican than usual to allow for social distance between the approximately 80 ambassadors who attended it. Francis, who was vaccinated against the coronavirus, did not wear a mask, but he usually kept his distance from the others present.
The pope said the world was facing crises in five areas: health, environment, economic and social issues, politics and human relations.
Francis said the crisis in politics was ‘much deeper’ than the other crises, saying it had led to ‘an increase in political conflict and the problem, if not actually the inability, to find common and shared solutions’. looking for the problems that plague our world. . “
“This is a growing trend, which is also spreading more and more in countries with a long tradition of democracy,” he said.
In what appeared to be a possible covert reference to the United States, the pope added: ‘The development of a democratic consciousness requires that the emphasis on individual personalities be overcome and that respect for the rule of law prevail. ‘
The pope directly addressed the recent military coup in Myanmar, a country he visited in 2017, and called on the country’s captured political leaders to be ‘released immediately’.
Francis mentions, among other things, worrying conflicts in the Central African Republic, Libya, Israelis and Palestinians, and the recent political instability in Lebanon, which arose due to the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut in August 2020.
The pope also made special reference to the ongoing Syrian civil war, which killed hundreds of thousands of people and turned millions into refugees. “How I wish 2021 could be the year when the conflict in Syria, which began ten years ago, can finally end!” Francis said.
The pope was originally scheduled to address the diplomatic corps on January 25, but had to postpone the event due to a flare-up of his sciatica, a nervous condition that can cause severe back pain.
Francis did not look worse for the wear on February 8, and was able to stand steady during his long speech. He also stood for almost an hour and greeted each of the ambassadors one by one.
The pope does not shake hands with the individual diplomats, but talks to each one from a few feet away. About half removed their masks when he greeted the pope.