Hundreds of people gathered in St. Peter's Square to celebrate #Notalone - World Meeting on Human Fraternity. The event brought 30 Nobel Prize winners, circus performers and award-winning artists, such as Andrea Bocelli, to the Vatican.
The culmination of the event was the signing of the declaration on human fraternity, drafted by some of the Nobel Prize winners. It emphasized their mission of dialogue and goal of living as brothers and sisters in spite of differences.
Pope Francis was scheduled to attend the meeting. But after being hospitalized on June 7, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti shared the Pope's message. The words echoed his encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, and the need to see each person as having dignity.
CARD. MAURO GAMBETTI
President, Fratelli Tutti Foundation
The one who sees the other as a brother or sister sees in him or her a face, not a number. The other is always “someone” who has dignity and merits respect, and not “something” to be used, exploited or thrown away.
The Pope challenged everyone to make a “culture of peace” in their own lives by forgiving and consoling others. He said that making these concrete steps individually can help change how the world treats people.
CARD. MAURO GAMBETTI
President, Fratelli Tutti Foundation
When people and societies choose fraternity, policies also change. The person once again takes precedence over profit and the home we all inhabit over exploiting the environment for one’s own interests.
To end the meeting, groups of young people from around the world joined hands in a “symbolic embrace” of humna fraternity.
KG
