On March 20, Pope Francis asked the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (DSSUI) to create a Commission to express the Church's focus for humanity facing COVID-19, above all through reflections on socio-economic and cultural challenges of the future and to come up with proposed guidelines for addressing the many related crises.
The Salesian sister is the Coordinator of the "Economy" Task Force created within the second working group of the Vatican Commission entitled "Looking to the Future with Creativity."
Following up on this mandate, in yesterday's press conference entitled "Preparing the future, building peace in the time of Covid-19", Sister Smerilli spoke with Card. Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Prefect of DSSUI and President of the Vatican Commission for Covid-19; and to Alessio Pecorario, who heads the commission's task force on security; and illustrated bold but possible proposals.
First, she offered a lucid analysis of Covid-19 and its effects: "The pandemic has revealed our frailties ... has provoked a dramatic increase in essential medical supplies ... has revealed the true extent of our interconnection ... The economic recession that is crossing and shall cross the whole world will provoke the displacement of millions and millions of jobs. The economic and social crisis could have disastrous dimensions."
Then, she highlighted: “There are ways out, but they require vision, courage and international collaboration…. Pope Francis asked us for creative solutions. So we ask ourselves: What if instead of engaging in an arms race, we 'race' toward food, health and work security? Does it makes any sense to continue with "massive investments in weapons if human lives cannot be saved because there is no adequate health care system,” added Sister Smerilli.
Sister Smerilli does not ignore that "the theme is more complicated than it seems: the arms race is a dilemma that sees States, for fear of other States, or for wanting to excel, outrival others, continue to increase their military arsenals."
"But ... this type of race stops only with a collective will of self-delimitation. We need courageous leaders who demonstrate their belief in the common good, who are committed to guaranteeing what is most needed today. We need a collective pact to direct resources for health security and well-being."
