Pope Francis
Pope Francis Appears After Missing New Year’s Mass Due To Pain Pope Francis Skips New Year’s Mass Due To Hip Pain Trump Ends Obama’s 12-Year Run As Most Admired Man: Gallup MORE condemned people who were on vacation abroad during his Sunday prayers to avoid coronavirus restrictions in their home country.
The Pope said he was “saddened” after hearing news reports that people were flying abroad to enjoy themselves as the world copes with the COVID-19 pandemic, according to CNN.
“They are good people, but they did not think about those who stayed at home, about the economic problems of many people who have been hit hard by the lockdown, about the sick people,” said Pope Francis.
“[They thought] just about going on vacation and having fun. This hurt me a lot, ” the Pope said according to CNN.
Pope Francis kept his Sunday prayers from the library of the Apostolic Palace instead of his window outside St. Peter’s Square to prevent crowds from gathering.
“What all of us – and all of us together – can do is be a little more committed to taking care of each other and what has been created, our common home,” he said in his New Year’s message, according to CNN.
The Pope’s comments come as the world deals with more than 85 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 1.8 million fatalities, with the US having the most cases with over 20 million and more than 350,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University.
His message matched his Christmas address calling for the COVID-19 vaccines to be made available “The most vulnerable and needy.”
Pope Francis missed his New Year’s service last week due to chronic pain, but spoke later on New Year’s Day.