Pope Leo: 'Moral imperative' that ‌people have access to universal healthcare

'Healthcare must be accessible to the ​most vulnerable… not only because their dignity requires it but also ‌to ⁠prevent injustice from becoming a cause of conflict'

Pope Leo XIV blesses faithful at the beginning of his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square, at the Vatican on Wednesday. Picture:Andrew Medichini/AP

Pope Leo made a plea on Wednesday for countries to offer their ​citizens universal healthcare, calling it a "moral imperative" that ‌people have access to the health services they need.

Previous popes have called for countries to offer universal healthcare, but calling ​an issue a "moral imperative" is an unusually strong ​term for a pope to use, indicating that ⁠something is required by Catholic teaching.