H.E.Card. Michael Czerny

The rich heritage of the Social Doctrine of the Church, updated by the encyclicals of Popes - John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis - shows the relationship between the individual and society in the light of the Gospel and has great educational and evangelizing value for the global community.
In the age of globalization, widening gap between rich and poor countries, persistent poverty, and pandemics, people are deeply concerned about public health problems .
The Covid 19 pandemic has revealed all the limitations of a 'two-speed world', but at the same time, it has shown the potential of global mobilization and widespread interest in a socially important topic.
The interest in public health sparked by the Covid 19 debate is a proper moment to arouse greater interest in the smoking pandemic, which affects more than 1.1 billion people worldwide.
The natural inclination and human right to live in a community and to participate actively in the creation of the common good calls for an immediate interest in ways to better integrate smokers in communities. One of the ways of doing this is to actively support smokers in their fight against addiction.
Professional and community support for smoking cessation, based on available methods, must be guided by the principles of respect for the individual, equality and the common good as set out in the Social Doctrine of the Church.
The ban on the sale of cigarettes introduced in 2018 by Pope Francis is a manifestation of concern for the common good.

Understanding of the common good: Reflections on the smoking harm reduction.

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H.E.Card. Michael Czerny

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