On Sunday, Pope Francis used his Angelus prayers to draw attention to the victims of the mpox virus, urging governments and the pharmaceutical industry to ramp up efforts to deliver vaccines to the hardest-hit regions.
During his prayers in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope expressed his solidarity with those suffering, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been heavily impacted by the outbreak. “I pray for all those affected, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and I stand with the local churches deeply involved in addressing this crisis,” he said.
The World Health Organization recently declared the spread of mpox from DR Congo to other African nations a global health emergency and has called for increased vaccine production and distribution.
The Pope urged both governments and private companies to collaborate on sharing technology and treatments to ensure everyone has access to necessary medical care. “I encourage both public and private sectors to share their resources and technologies so that no one is left without proper care,” he stated.
Mpox, though known for decades, has recently surged due to a new, more dangerous strain known as Clade 1b. This variant is more deadly and transmissible, with a fatality rate of approximately 3.6%, particularly affecting children, according to the WHO.
The virus has caused over 570 deaths in DR Congo this year and has spread to Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda since July. The first case in Europe was reported in Sweden last week. Mpox can be transmitted from animals to humans and also spread between people through close contact.
