UN/Vatican: Faith Half During Pandemic
Amid the isolating and divisive tendencies of the pandemic, faith has the power to act as a force for unity and cohesion. The Vatican interim representative at the UNO in Geneva recalled this. John Putzer addressed the role of faith in combating poverty in health crises in his speech at the 7th Annual Interfaith Dialogue at the UN.
In Geneva, the Permanent Mission of the Holy See, which is not a member of the UN, actively participated in the discussions within the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization, Putzer recalled in his speech. The Vatican was concerned with “promoting an acquired response to global health emergencies and better preparedness.” The Holy See has also done a lot of work within the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to ensure “that the rights of people fleeing are no longer endangered by such health crises”. The Catholic Church also owns and operates over 20,000 hospitals and dispensaries around the world, many of which are in developing countries. Institutions that serve many people who otherwise would not have access to medical care.
And Putzer further emphasized: In the past two years, the Pope has spoken out several times and pointed out how important it is to ensure equal access to basic medical care, including the Covid 19 vaccines. Pope Francis also pointed out that getting vaccinated and complying with public health measures is an “act of charity”. At the beginning of the pandemic, the pontiff established a Vatican Covid-19 commission charged with analyzing the impact of the current global health crisis on the pursuit of integral human development for all people. This working group continues to conduct studies to better understand and respond to the pandemic, while providing assistance to those in need.
(Vatican News)