Pope Francis said Wednesday that a COVID-19 vaccine should be “for everyone” and not made a priority for the rich.
“How sad it would be if for the COVID-19 vaccine priority is given to the richest,” Francis said during his weekly general audience at the Vatican, which was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It would be sad,” he added, “if the vaccine became property of such and such nation and not universal for everyone.”
The pope noted how COVID-19 “has uncovered the plight of the poor and the great inequality that reigns in the world.”
“The pandemic is a crisis. You don’t come out of it the same — either better or worse,” he said. “We must come out better.”