Pope Francis Condemns Those Who Traveled Abroad for Vacation to Flee Lockdowns

Lately, many people around the world have been more lenient about going on vacations abroad. This is probably a mix of people feeling like the end of the year will bring them a fresh start – one without the pandemic – and wanting to spend the holiday seasons somewhere other than lockdown.  Mostly, though, a lot of these cases are those who live in countries that are once again facing strict COVID-19 lockdowns. 

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This trend has gotten backlash from many people because of the heightened risks that traveling brings amid a pandemic. The latest person to call out this behavior is none other than the Pope.

Last January 3, after his weekly Sunday prayers at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace library, Pope Francis brought this issue up. He mentioned that it pained him to see news reports about people traveling abroad to flee COVID-19 lockdowns and have fun in other places. 

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The Pope condemned these actions, saying that people guilty of doing so aren’t thinking about other people. 

“They are good people,” he said, “but they didn’t think about those who are staying at home, of the economic problems of many people who have been hit hard by the lockdown, of the sick people. Only about going on holiday and having fun.”

He then added, “We don’t know what 2021 will reserve for us, but what all of us can do together is make a bit more of an effort to take care of each other. There is the temptation to take care only of our own interests.” 

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This isn’t the first time the Pope has addressed how coronavirus is being handled both by citizens and government authorities. In the past, he has also criticized those who refused to wear masks in public. During his Christmas message weeks ago, he has also called on country leaders, corporations, and heads of international bodies to cooperate and promote the sharing of the vaccine especially to the most vulnerable around the world.

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