Pope on new year: Pandemic is hard but focus on ‘the good that unites us’

Pope Francis celebrates a Mass at the beginning of the new year, in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican (Andrew Medichini/AP)

In his new year’s wishes to the world, Pope Francis has encouraged people to focus on the good which unites them and decried violence against women while acknowledging that the coronavirus pandemic has left many scared and struggling amid economic inequality.

“We are still living in uncertain and difficult times due to the pandemic,” Francis said.