Pope Francis is adding his voice to a campaign to overcome vaccine skepticism, issuing a public service announcement insisting that vaccines are safe, effective and an “act of love.”
The video message released Wednesday August 18, 2021 is aimed at a global audience but directed particularly at the Americas. It features six cardinals and archbishops from North, Central and South America as well as the Argentine-born pope. Pope Francis and Archbishop Jose Gomez (of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles) were among leaders featured in the ad campaign promoting COVID-19 vaccines throughout the Americas.
It was produced by the Vatican and the Ad Council, which has produced a series of pro-vaccine ads in a bid to get more people vaccinated. The “It’s Up To You” campaign has been inviting “trusted messengers” to deliver “fact-based and life-saving information to populations hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccines, helping them to make informed decisions for themselves and their families,” it said in a joint news release with the Ad Council.
Lisa Sherman, president and CEO of the Ad Council, said, “The role of trusted messengers to educate and inspire their networks is undeniable.”