President Joe Biden applauds a man receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Va., April 6, 2021. (CNS photo/Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
Washington The Biden administration s May 5 announcement that it supports waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines as a means to expand the vaccine s production and distribution is a move the Vatican has been suggesting.
At a February Word Trade Organization meeting, a Vatican representative said this step would be a strong signal demonstrating real commitment and engagement and thus moving from declaration to action in favor of the entire human family.
Prior to the May announcement, the United States has not backed the proposal to waive the vaccines patent rights made by India and South Africa and supported by many congressional Democrats.
Move to waive vaccine patents is good step, says Catholic health official
May 7, 2021 catholic news service
President Joe Biden applauds a man receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Va., April 6, 2021. (Credit: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters via CNS.)
The Biden administration s May 5 announcement that it supports waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines as a means to expand the vaccine s production and distribution is a move the Vatican has been suggesting.
WASHINGTON, D.C. The Biden administration’s May 5 announcement that it supports waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines as a means to expand the vaccine’s production and distribution is a move the Vatican has been suggesting.
Misolas gives Biden high marks for his quick attention to the climate crisis and the global pandemic as well as for steps to close the gap on economic inequities.
National Catholic Reporter Quotes Eric LeCompte on Climate Summit
National Catholic Reporter Quotes Eric LeCompte on Climate Summit
April 22, 2021
National Catholic Reporter quotes Eric LeCompte on the representation of developing countries at President Biden s Leaders Summit on Climate. Read an excerpt below, and click here for the full story.
Pope Francis, in Earth Day messages, warns we are at the edge on climate change
By Brian Roewe
In a statement, Jose Aguto, associate director of the Catholic Climate Covenant, said the summit, along with Biden s American Jobs Plan, were positive steps our nation can take to uplift the dignity of all people and address climate change. An interfaith statement from 13 religious organizations, including Interfaith Power & Light and the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, offered prayers and our hopes for moral leadership during the summit and that the U.S. respond to climate change with urgency, fairness and equity.
Pope Francis delivers a pre-recorded message for Earth Day Live, organized April 22, 2021 by the Earth Day Network. (EarthBeat screenshot)
Editor s note: This story was updated April 22 at 3:30 p.m. CDT with additional reporting. It was updated again April 23 at 9:30 a.m. CDT with details on other Earth Day celebrations.
In twin Earth Day messages, Pope Francis warned a gathering of world leaders and the global community at large that we are at the edge with climate change, and the time to take action is now.
The pope made appearances minutes apart April 22 during two virtual events marking Earth Day: the international leaders summit on climate organized by U.S. President Joe Biden, and the Earth Day Live livestream organized by the Earth Day Network. In both, Francis urged presidents and prime ministers to act courageously in addressing climate change, and to learn from the coronavirus pandemic the need to create a just, equitable, environmentally safe planet