Pope Francis put the Covid epidemic at the center of his remarks as he welcomed a group of new ambassadors to the Holy See on December 17.

“It is important that the international community intensify its efforts of cooperation so that all people will have ready access to vaccines,” the Pope said. “This is not a matter of convenience or courtesy, but of justice.”

The Pontiff was greeting newly appointed ambassadors from Chad, Guinea Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Moldova, and Namibia.