Pope’s book critical of those not using masks

‘Incapable of moving outside their own little world of interest’

A viral Facebook meme claims to quote Pope Francis calling people who’ve refused to wear masks and prevent the spread of COVID-19 “selfish.”

“Breaking: Pope Francis denounces Anti-Maskers, says they protest for themselves but never for others,” reads the meme posted by the CALL TO ACTIVISM Facebook community on Nov. 25.

The meme then quotes the pope and urges viewers to spread his message:

“You’ll never find such people protesting the death of George Floyd, or joining a demonstration because children lack water or education … they are incapable of moving outside of their own little world of interests.”

The quote comes from Pope Francis’ book “Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future”, which hit bookshelves Tuesday.

CALL TO ACTIVISM told USA TODAY that it created the meme from book quotes reported by the Guardian, the Independent and NPR.

Publisher and writer confirm quote

Austen Ivereigh is the papal biographer who wrote the book and has written two others with the pope.

When USA TODAY reached out to Ivereigh and publisher Simon & Schuster, Ivereigh shared a passage of the book where the statement was made. The full quote on page 27 of the book reads:

“You’ll never find such people protesting the death of George Floyd, or joining a demonstration because there are shantytowns where children lack water or education, or because there are whole families who have lost their income. You won’t find them protesting that the astonishing amounts spent on the arms trade could be used to feed the whole of the human race and school every child. On such matters they would never protest; they are incapable of moving outside of their own little world of interests.”

Ivereigh said his conversations with the pope during COVID-19 lockdowns and the events in the summer of 2020 inspired the book.

Our rating: True

A passage from Pope Francis’ new book “Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future” criticizes those who’ve refused to wear face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

AP Francis supports demands for racial justice in the wake of the U.S. police killing of George Floyd and blasts COVID-19 skeptics and the media that spread their conspiracies in a new book penned during the Vatican’s coronavirus lockdown.

VINCENZO PINTO/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican on Sept. 9 during the COVID-19 pandemic.