"I would like to support and encourage the international collaboration that is taking place with various initiatives to respond adequately and effectively to the serious crisis we are experiencing", the pontiff said during a traditional Sunday sermon, broadcast by Vatican News website.
The Pope noted that it was important to bring together scientific capacities in a transparent and disinterested way to find vaccines and treatments and to guarantee universal access to essential technologies that will enable every infected person in every part of the world to receive the necessary health care.
Francis also voiced his support of the initiative by the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, a group of religions and cultural leaders and scholars, to hold a world day of prayer for against the COVID-19 pandemic on 14 May.
According to the World Health Organisation, there are eight candidate vaccines in clinical evaluation, with another 94 in preclinical evaluation.
