Pope Francis condemned people who vacationed abroad to avoid coronavirus restrictions in their home countries during his Sunday prayer.
The pope said he was “saddened” after hearing news reports that said people were flying abroad to enjoy themselves as the world copes with the COVID-19 pandemic, according to CNN.
“They are good people, but they didn’t think about those who were staying at home, of the economic problems of many people who have been hit hard by the lockdown, of the sick people,” Francis said.
“[They thought] only about going on holiday and having fun. This pained me a lot,” the pope said, according to CNN.
Francis gave his Sunday prayer from the Apostolic Palace library instead of his window outside of St. Peter’s Square to prevent crowds from gathering.
“What each of us — and all of us together — can do is commit ourselves a little more to take care of each other and of what was created, our common home,” he said in his New Year’s message, according to CNN.
The pope’s remarks come as the world copes with more than 85 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 1.8 million fatalities, with the U.S. having the most cases at more than 20 million and more than 350,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
His message aligned with his Christmas address in which he called for the COVID-19 vaccines to be made available to “the most vulnerable and needy.”
Francis missed his New Year’s services last week due to chronic pain but spoke later on New Year’s Day.