杏MAP导航

By Vatican News staff writer

杏MAP导航 Francis has made a donation of two portable ventilators with stands, ten boxes of surgical masks, 10 boxes of N95 masks and pulse monitors to Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital in Siteki, Eswatini, to support ongoing efforts in the fight against the Covid-19.

Expressing gratitude for the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 gift in a blog post on Wednesday, Bishop José Luis Ponce de León of the country鈥檚 lone diocese, Manzini, highlighted the Holy Father鈥檚 鈥渁ctive role and leadership鈥� since the beginning of the pandemic.

杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� leadership

鈥淎s soon as the first lock-downs were announced in Italy,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 suspended 鈥渁ll the public prayers and weekly audiences鈥� and 鈥渃alled the world to prayer and prayed for the world,鈥� he said, recalling in particular, the 鈥淪tatio Orbis鈥� presided over by the 杏MAP导航 鈥渁ll alone鈥� in St. Peter鈥檚 Square, on 27 March 2020.

鈥淚t was the image of a world experiencing lockdowns but at the same time the image of a shepherd that remains close to the sheep,鈥� Bishop Ponce de León said.

Then, when vaccines became available, the Bishop continued, the Holy Father 鈥渋mmediately got vaccinated and called the world to do the same鈥� and described vaccination as 鈥渁 lifesaving and ethical obligation.鈥� Furthermore, the 杏MAP导航 repeatedly stressed the need for "universal access to vaccines,鈥� urging a "temporary suspension of intellectual property rights.鈥�

In all, the 杏MAP导航 placed emphasis on 鈥減rayer, vaccines and solidarity with health systems around the world.鈥�

Go, and do the same yourself

Inspired by 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� leadership, Bishop Ponce de León recalled Jesus鈥� words at the end of the parable of the Good Samaritan: 鈥淕o, and do the same yourself,鈥� (Lk 10:37).

In this regard, he notes that the example of the 杏MAP导航 is 鈥渘ot only for religious leaders but for all of us, as today鈥檚 'good samaritans' called to 鈥減rayer, to respect Covid-19 protocols, to be vaccinated, to encourage others to do the same and to support those in need.鈥�

Finally, the Bishop extended a blessing upon all, including the staff working at the Catholic hospital.

Covid-19 in Eswatini

Eswatini has had over 34,000 confirmed cases of the Covid-19 infection since the pandemic began, with just over 900 deaths. Vaccination efforts are still ongoing in the country that used to be known as 鈥淪waziland鈥� up until 2018.