Christian response to pandemic "is based on

love", says pope

"Christians, in a particular way the laity, are called to give good

example of this and can do it thanks to the virtue of charity"

The coronavirus pandemic highlights how "each person's true good is a common good" and the
Christian response to the pandemic "is based on love", Pope Francis said at the General Audience on
Wednesday.

Continuing his reflections on "Healing the World," Pope Francis said we can emerge from the
coronavirus crisis better than before "if we all seek the common good together."

Francis pointed out that "the Christian response to the pandemic and to the consequent socio-
economic crisis is based on love".

This is particularly difficult as it means "loving the enemy," which is "the highest summit of holiness."
However, it is an "art that can be learned and improved", he said.
With God's help, Pope Francis said, "we can heal the world," if we all work together "for the common
good."
"Many times, a caress does more good than so many arguments — a caress of forgiveness and not
many arguments to defend ourselves. It is inclusive love that heals," he said.

Love not only unites families and friendships but also "social, cultural, economic and political
relationships," that foster a "civilization of love", he said using an expression beloved of Popes Paul
VI and John Paul II.

"Without this inspiration, an egotistical, indifferent, throwaway culture (that) casts out those who we
don't love, prevails," Francis said.

September 09 2020 General Audience Pope Francis

Pope Francis said the pandemic should help us to see that the good of each person individually is tied
up with the common good of society as a whole.

"Each person's true good is a common good" and that "a virus that does not recognize barriers, borders
or cultural or political distinctions must be faced with a love without barriers, borders or distinction",
he said.

Everyone – and Christians in particular – have a duty to work to promote the common good, he said.

"Christians, in a particular way the laity, are called to give good example of this and can do it thanks
to the virtue of charity, cultivating its intrinsic social dimension."

"If the solutions for the pandemic bear the imprint of selfishness, whether it be by people, businesses
or nations, we may perhaps emerge from the coronavirus crisis, but certainly not from the human and
social crisis that the virus has brought to light and accentuated," the pope said.

"We must be careful not to build on sand! To build a healthy, inclusive, just and peaceful society we
must do so on the rock of the common good," he said. "Common good is a rock."

This is the "time to improve our social love, with everyone's contribution" … Thus, through our
gestures, even the most humble ones, something of the image of God that we bear with us will be
made visible, because God is the Trinity, God is love."