Pope Francis expresses solidarity with victims of the MPOX

The pontiff asked for prayers for those affected and urged governments and companies to share technology and treatments to deal with the emergency.

He Pope Francis He dedicated his Sunday Angelus prayer to the victims of MPOX, a disease that has recently been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO)From St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, the pontiff expressed his deep concern about the increase in cases, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the situation is critical.

“I pray for all those who have been infected, especially for the population of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who have suffered so much from this disease,” the Pope said at the end of his traditional weekly prayer. He also expressed his closeness to the local churches in the countries most affected by the outbreak.

MPOX, formerly known as monkeypox, has seen an alarming surge in cases due to a new, more aggressive and contagious variant, called clade 1b. The mortality rate of this variant stands at 3.6%, according to WHO data. So far this year, the virus has claimed the lives of more than 570 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and its spread has already been recorded in other countries in the region, such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

On August 14, the WHO declared MPOX a public health emergency of international concern, marking the highest level of global alert. The organization has urged increased vaccine production and distribution to contain the spread of the virus.

In his message, Pope Francis also called for cooperation between governments and private industry. “I encourage everyone to share the technologies and treatments available so that no one is left without the necessary medical care,” said the leader of the Catholic Church, stressing the importance of solidarity and collaboration in the fight against this emergency.

The impact of mpox is not limited to Africa. The first case in Europe was confirmed in Sweden on 15 August, highlighting the need for a coordinated global response. The disease can be transmitted both from animals to humans and between people through close physical contact, making containment difficult.

Read also:

Criminal gangs take over 25 galleries of Mina Poderosa

In this context, Pope Francis joins the voices calling for immediate and effective action to mitigate the suffering caused by MPOX and prevent further spread of the disease.