Pope issues Christmas Day plea for Covid vaccines for all

Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for ‘to the city and to the world’ ) Christmas’ day blessing inside the blessing hall of St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, Friday, Dec. 25, 2020. (Vatican Media via AP)

Pope Francis has made a Christmas Day plea for authorities to make Covid-19 vaccines available to all, insisting that the first in line should be the most vulnerable and needy, regardless of who holds the patents.

“Vaccines for everybody, especially for the most vulnerable and needy,” Francis said in off-the-cuff remarks away from his prepared text, calling the development of such vaccines “light of hope” for the world.