The Pope met with politicians from the International Catholic Legislators Network. The Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, accompanied them.
CARD. CHRISTOPH SCHÖNBORN
“Holy Father, we are happy to be here.”
The Network's president explained the group's primary activities to the Pope.
CHRISTIAAN ALTING DI GEUSAU
International Catholic Legislators Network
“To build for man a world without fear, we must be without fear. To build a world with justice, we must be just.”
Pope Francis apologized for remaining seated throughout their meeting, but he explained that doctors had told him to avoid standing.
Then the Pope told them that as the pandemic continues, politicians should strive to do more than just defeat the virus.
POPE FRANCIS
“(The pandemic demands) confronting the deeper causes that the crisis has laid bare and aggravated: poverty, social inequality, widespread unemployment and the lack of access to education.”
Pope Francis asked politicians to regulate the administration of technology for the common good.
POPE FRANCIS
“I think, for example, of the scourge of child pornography, the misuse of personal data, attacks on critical infrastructures such as hospitals, and the spread of false information on social media.”
This network of Catholic legislators was established in 2010 in Europe. Today it spans the entire globe.
JMB
TR: CT