Leader of the largest church, the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis has worked in collaboration with the Ad Council to produce a public service announcement promoting COVID-19 vaccines.
The announcement video that also include six cardinals and archbishops from North, South and Central America is the first campaign designed for a global audience, and will be distributed in English, Spanish and Portuguese according to Ad Council.
Pope Francis said, “They (vaccines) bring hope to end the pandemic, but only if we collaborate with one another.”
In January this year Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI received doses on a vaccination program in the Vatican City
Pope Francis went on to describe getting vaccinated as an act of love.
“And helping the majority of people to do so (vaccinated), is an act of love. Love for oneself, love for our families and friends, and love for all people,” he said.
He went on to say that getting vaccinated is a simple way to care for one another, especially the most vulnerable.
“I pray to God that each one of us can make his or her own small gesture of love.”
Church leaders have been preaching against vaccinations with South African televangelist Pastor Chris Oyakhilome slamming men of cloths for endorsing the COVID-19 pandemic in March this year.
“I cannot understand how a minister of the Gospel will be waiting for some vaccines to be the solution of the world; Where were your faith? What happened to you?” he ranted.
“We cannot make such recommendations (on vaccines) that is not our calling to make such recommendations. We cannot be used for that. As a minister of the gospel you cannot be used for that.”
“How can you become a minister, a preacher of vaccines?” he added.
Zimbabwe’s Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa at first made sentiments against the vaccines but latter on changed stance and said that he has not stopped anyone from getting vaccinated.
The Zimbabwean government recently made an act that only allows vaccinated people to attend Church gatherings.
