VATICAN CITY, March 18 (Reuters) - 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.
“Universal health coverage is … a moral imperative for societies that wish to call themselves just,” the pope said in a meeting with participants in a healthcare conference organised by the World Health Organization and European bishops.
“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,” he said. “Health cannot be a luxury for the few.”
Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, called in 2021 for healthcare systems to be “accessible to all”, citing Italy’s tax-funded health service as an example.
