USCCB President and International Justice and Peace Chairman Commend President Biden for Donation of COVID Vaccines to World's Poorest Countries

23
Jun
2021

WASHINGTON – Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace commended President Biden for his commitment to provide 500 million COVID-19 vaccines to lower-income countries. The amount was recently matched by the G-7 nations, bringing the total of vaccines to one billion.

Their full statement follows:

“As world leaders work together to help bring an end to this pandemic, we are grateful for President Biden’s leadership to aid the poor and vulnerable around the world who remain most at-risk.

“In his 2021 Easter message Pope Francis said, ‘Vaccines are an essential tool in this fight. I urge the entire international community, in a spirit of global responsibility, to commit to overcoming delays in the distribution of vaccines and to facilitate their distribution, especially in the poorest countries.’ This gesture of global solidarity is timely, responding to those regions with the greatest need, particularly in Africa and South Asia.

“We encourage the Administration to partner with Catholic and other well established and broad reaching faith-based health care structures throughout the developing world to facilitate and strengthen vaccine distribution as we work together to save and restore lives.”