The Pope criticises people taking trips to escape lockdown

POPE FRANCIS yesterday condemned people who had gone abroad on holiday to escape coronavirus lockdowns, saying they needed to show greater awareness of the suffering of others.

Speaking after his weekly noon blessing, the Pope said he had read reports of people catching flights to flee government curbs and seek fun elsewhere.

“I read in the newspapers something that made me pretty sad: a country – I don’t remember which – just to escape lockdown and have good vacations, allowed 40 planes to depart one afternoon,” he said.

Pope Francis went on to say that “those people were good people,” but people who did not think about those staying at home, the many who have been battered economically, and those who are sick.

“[They just thought] about going on vacation for their own personal pleasure,” the Pope said, waving his hand in a gesture evoking nonchalance.

“This really saddened me,” he added in a video address from the library of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.

The Angelus blessing is normally given from a window overlooking St Peter’s Square, but i t was moved indoors to prevent any crowds gathering and to limit the spread of Covid-19.