File photo of a poor and marginalised person in Italy
Pope Leo XIV: Health cannot be a luxury for few
Pope Leo XIV reflects on situations of poverty, loneliness
and isolation experienced by many people in Europe today and decries increasing
inequalities and injustice in the field of healthcare which he warns, can also
lead to conflict.
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday expressed his belief that
“Universal health coverage is not merely a technical goal to be achieved; it is
primarily a moral imperative for societies that wish to call themselves just,”
but also to prevent injustice from becoming a cause of conflict.
The Pope was addressing participants in the Conference
“Today who is my neighbour?” organised by the Council of the Bishops’
Conferences of Europe, the World Health Organization (European Region), and the
Italian Episcopal Conference during a private audience in the Vatican.
Speaking on the day in which the second “WHO European Health
Equity Status Report” is released, the Pope noted that the document “draws
attention to the situations faced by many poor and isolated people in Europe.
Noting that inequalities in the field of healthcare are
growing in many European nations, he also called for urgent attention to
people’s mental health, particularly that of young people.
Healthcare and social peace
“Health cannot be a luxury for the few,” the Pope said,
highlighting also that it is “an essential condition for social peace.”
“Healthcare must be accessible to the most vulnerable, not
only because their dignity requires it but also to prevent injustice from
becoming a cause of conflict,” he said.
After having reflected on passages from the Gospel, from the
Book of Genesis, from Saint Augustine’s writings and from Pope Francis’
Encyclical Fratelli tutti, Pope Leo said “Distance, distraction and
desensitisation to the sight of violence and the suffering of others lead us
toward indifference. Yet all men and women, especially Christians, are
called to fix their gaze on those who suffer: on the pain of the lonely, on
those who, for various reasons, are marginalised and considered “outcasts.” For
without them, we cannot build just societies founded on the human person.”
Only together, he continued, “can we build communities of
solidarity capable of caring for everyone, in which wellbeing and peace can
flourish for the benefit of all.”
“Caring for the humanity of others helps us to live our
own lives to the full.”
May the Christian lifestyle reflect the Samaritan spirit
The Pope concluded, reaffirming the Church’s role that is
always at the “service of the advancement of humanity and of universal fraternity.”
He said that the Churches in Europe and throughout the
world, in cooperation with international organisations, can “play a decisive
role today in combating inequalities in healthcare, particularly in support of
the most vulnerable populations”.
And finally, he appealed to Christians to ensure “our
Christian lifestyle will always reflect this fraternal, ‘Samaritan’ spirit –
one that is welcoming, courageous, committed and supportive, rooted in our
union with God and our faith in Jesus Christ.”
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