World leaders must not use the pandemic for political gain, the pope says

Government leaders and authorities must not exploit the COVID-19 pandemic to discredit political rivals, but instead set aside differences to find "workable solutions for our people," Pope Francis said.

In a video message on November 19 to participants in a virtual seminar on the coronavirus pandemic in Latin America, the pope said that leaders should not "encourage, approve or use mechanisms that make this serious crisis an electoral or social tool".

"Discrediting the other only succeeds in destroying the possibility of finding agreements that help alleviate the effects of the pandemic in our communities, especially on the most excluded," the pope said.

"Who pays (the price) for this discrediting process?" churches. “People pay for it; we progress in discrediting the other at the expense of the poorest, at the expense of the people “.

Elected officials and public employees, he added, are called to "be at the service of the common good and not put the common good at the service of their interests".

“We all know the dynamics of the corruption that occurs in this sector. And this also applies to the men and women of the church, ”the pope said.

Corruption within the church, he said, is "a real leprosy that sickens and kills the Gospel."

The virtual seminar of November 19-20, entitled "Latin America: Church, Pope Francis and scenarios of the pandemic", was sponsored by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, as well as by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and the Latin American Bishops' Conference, commonly known as CELAM.

In his message, the pope expressed the hope that initiatives such as the seminary "inspire paths, awaken processes, create alliances and promote all the mechanisms necessary to guarantee a dignified life for our people, especially the most excluded, through the experience of fraternity and the building of social friendship. "

“When I say the most excluded, I don't mean (in the same way) to say to give alms to the most excluded, or a gesture of charity, no, but a key to hermeneutics,” he said.

Poorer people hold the key to interpreting and understanding the blame or benefit of any response, he said. "If we don't start from there, we will make mistakes."

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, he continued, will be felt for many years to come and solidarity must be at the heart of any proposal to alleviate people's suffering.

Any future initiative should be "based on contribution, sharing and distribution, not on possession, exclusion and accumulation," the pope said.

“Now more than ever it is necessary to regain awareness of our common belonging. The virus reminds us that the best way to take care of ourselves is to learn to care for and protect those around us, ”he said.

Noting that the pandemic has "amplified" the socio-economic problems and injustices existing in Latin America, the Pope said that many people, especially the poorest in the region, are not guaranteed "the necessary resources to implement the minimum measures to protect against COVID-19".

However, Pope Francis said that despite "this gloomy landscape", the people of Latin America "teach us that they are people with a soul who know how to face crises with courage and know how to generate voices that cry out in the desert to pave the way for the Sir ".

"Please, let's not allow ourselves to be robbed of hope!" he exclaimed. “The path of solidarity as well as justice is the best expression of love and closeness. We can get out of this crisis better, and this is what many of our sisters and brothers have witnessed in the daily giving of their lives and in the initiatives that the people of God have generated.