Vatican

Cardinal Pietro Parolin tells UN universal health care is a moral imperative

Catholic IntelligenceSep 26, 2026Updated Sep 29, 4:16 PM PT1 min read

Cardinal Pietro Parolin told the United Nations on Sept. 25 that universal health care is a moral imperative. Speaking at a high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response during the 81st General Assembly in New York, the Vatican secretary of state argued that medical advances must be accessible to citizens in the most vulnerable countries.

Parolin noted that failing to close the gap in medical access will make it more difficult to prevent and respond to future pandemics. He urged global leaders to address the conditions that increase the risk of severe illness and death, specifically poverty, poor living conditions, and a lack of health care. He also called for greater solidarity and increased attention to the mental health of young people.

During his statement, Parolin cited the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas by Pope Leo XIV, which observes that scientific and medical progress is often not easily accessible to the majority of people. The UN meeting focused on developing a multilateral and intergenerational approach to public health emergencies based on principles of equity and solidarity.

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