• Home
  • Diocese
  • Bishop Burns
  • Synod
  • Columnists
  • Revista Catolica
  • Pope Francis
  • Subscribe
The Texas Catholic
The Texas Catholic

Dallas, Texas

Today is Wednesday, May 25, 2022
  • Home
  • Diocese
  • Bishop Burns
  • Synod
  • Columnists
  • Revista Catolica
  • Pope Francis
  • Subscribe
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
Home
Top Story

Common good, not greed, must motivate search for vaccine, pope says

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Pope Francis signs a card for a nun as he leads his general audience in the San Damaso courtyard at the Vatican Sept. 9, 2020. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

By Junno Arocho Esteves
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — The common good — and not political or economic gain — should be at the heart of the race to find a vaccine for COVID-19, Pope Francis said.

During his weekly general audience Sept. 9, the pope said that “we see partisan interests emerging” in the search for a vaccine, and some people “are taking advantage of the situation to instigate divisions: by seeking economic or political advantages, generating or exacerbating conflicts.”

“Others simply are not interesting themselves in the suffering of others; they pass by and go their own way. They are devotees of Pontius Pilate: they wash their hands,” he said.

The general audience was in the San Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, a small space with seats for about 500 people. While attendees were required to wear masks, they bunched up at the railings to try to get closer to Pope Francis, prompting him to urge them to return to their seats and stay a safe distance from one another.

“Please move back so that you aren’t crowded here. Each one (return) to your seats so we can avoid infections,” he said at the start of the audience.

After the audience, the pope put on a mask before getting in his car to leave the courtyard.

Continuing his series of talks on “healing the world,” highlighting Catholic social teaching, the pope reflected on the importance of love and the common good, especially in a time of crisis.

The Christian response to the pandemic, he said, “is based on love,” which is difficult, especially when it means “loving the enemy,” which is “the highest summit of holiness.”

“Many times, a caress does more good than so many arguments — a caress of forgiveness and not many arguments to defend ourselves. It is inclusive love that heals,” the pope said, departing from his prepared remarks.

Love, he continued, not only makes families and friendships flourish, but also “social, cultural, economic and political relationships,” thus allowing for the growth of a “civilization of love.”

“Without this inspiration, an egotistical, indifferent, throwaway culture (that) casts out those who we don’t love, prevails,” he said.

Pope Francis said the coronavirus pandemic highlights how “each person’s true good is a common good” and that “a virus that does not recognize barriers, borders or cultural or political distinctions must be faced with a love without barriers, borders or distinction.”

“If the solutions for the pandemic bear the imprint of selfishness, whether it be by people, businesses or nations, we may perhaps emerge from the coronavirus crisis, but certainly not from the human and social crisis that the virus has brought to light and accentuated,” the pope said.

“Therefore, we must be careful not to build on sand! To build a healthy, inclusive, just and peaceful society we must do so on the rock of the common good,” he said. “Common good is a rock.”

  • Tags
  • COVID-19
  • Faith
  • Pope Francis
  • Vatican
Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Next article Bishop Burns: Through God's grace, we shall rise to meet challenges
Previous article Virtual pilgrimage, concrete donation: Holy Land Catholics ask for help

Related Posts

World must never lose hope that peace, fraternity can prevail, pope says Pope Francis
Thursday, May 19, 2022

World must never lose hope that peace, fraternity can prevail, pope says

Hundreds celebrate consecration of UD to Our Lady of Guadalupe Diocese
Sunday, May 15, 2022

Hundreds celebrate consecration of UD to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Pope tells grandparents to leave grandkids their legacy of wisdom Pope Francis
Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Pope tells grandparents to leave grandkids their legacy of wisdom

Texas Catholic Classics

A look at the five Dallas law enforcement officers who gave their lives while protecting citizens during a mass shooting in downtown Dallas in July 2016.

 

How a child with special needs inspired a high school volleyball team, community and a family who heeded God’s call to protect life.

 

After a young runner collapsed at a Dallas marathon, grace and providence unfolded for those involved in the valiant effort to help her.

   

In the summer of 2016, 50 students and 25 chaperones from Dallas Catholic high schools traveled to Nicaragua for a 10-day mission trip.

 

Early on a November morning, Kenndrick Mendieta bounded from the gym at Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep toward the campus’ athletic fields as clouds lifted on a fresh new day.

 

Subscribe

Get the award-winning Texas Catholic delivered to your door. Use the menu below to subscribe now.


Subscription length




 

Photo Gallery

Click here to find your favorite Texas Catholic photographs.

The Texas Catholic Newspaper

Catholic Diocese of Dallas
Michael Gresham, Editor

3725 Blackburn Street
Dallas, Texas 75219
(214) 379-2800

Our Affiliated Sites

Texas Catholic Youth

Revista Católica

Legal and Other

Contact us

Terms of service

Privacy policy

Site map

Site powered by TexasCatholicMedia

© 2013-2019 The Texas Catholic Publishing Company. All rights reserved.