Vienna 16.4.2023
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The COVID-19 vaccine is an act of love. This is the message delivered by Jorge Mario Bergoglio – Pope Francis – in August 2021.
Pope Francis was so confident in the effectiveness of these vaccines that last year the Vatican issued a set of eight coins, the largest of which is a €20 silver coin depicting a young person likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
A quote from the Vatican website that offers this coin set: The 20 euro silver coin, designed by Chiara Principe, is dedicated to a current theme that is very close to Pope Francis’ heart: treatments to counter the pandemic and the need to be vaccinated. The coin depicts a doctor, a nurse and a young person who is ready to receive the vaccine. The Holy Father has repeatedly stressed the importance of vaccination, recalling that healthcare is “a moral obligation”, and it is important to “continue efforts to immunise even the poorest peoples”.
In February 2021, the Vatican became the first and practically only country in Europe to introduce compulsory vaccination against COVID-19. Swiss Guards who refused these experimental doses were dismissed with immediate effect. Source. In Austria, compulsory vaccination was passed in parliament, but after a wave of large, peaceful protests, the implementation of this law was suspended, only to be completely withdrawn after a few months.
I have described just one of the strands that are causing major divisions within the Church and among practicing Catholics.
As so often, Pope Francis can surprise positively. His criticism of clergy who present price lists for the administration of the sacraments to the faithful in office, or the introduction of an open discussion about abuses in the clergy and the imposition of sanctions on pedophile priests. Only in this way can future cases of child abuse by some clergymen be prevented.
Author of the article: Marek Wojcik