Pope Francis' speech - read by an aide - to the ambassadors accredited to the Holy See sums up the Vatican's position on many of the challenges of today.
The question of world peace took up a large part of the text. He reiterated his request for an end to violence in Ukraine, in the Middle East, and in the various countries of Asia and Africa ravaged by conflict.
In America, the Pope's speech focused on the crisis in Venezuela.
POPE FRANCIS
It can only be overcome by sincere adherence to the values of truth, justice and freedom, by respect for the life, dignity and rights of every person, including those arrested as a result of the events of recent months…
In Nicaragua, the Pope expressed the Church's willingness to engage in constructive dialogue with the authorities, although he called for respect for religious freedom.
POPE FRANCIS
In the end, there can be no true peace without the guarantee of religious freedom, which entails respect for the conscience of individuals and the possibility of publicly manifesting one’s faith and membership in a community.
The Pope's speech devoted much time to the question of religious freedom and respect for the rights of those who profess a faith.
POPE FRANCIS
Nor can I remain silent about the numerous persecutions against various Christian communities, often perpetrated by terrorist groups especially in Africa and Asia. Nor, for that matter, about the more “discreet” forms of restriction on religious freedom that at times are found also in Europe, where legal norms and administrative practices are growing that “limit or in fact annul the rights formally recognized by the Constitution for individual believers and religious groups”.
The Pope lamented the increase in polarization worldwide. For this reason, he called for redoubling diplomatic efforts and investing in dialogue. In this sense, he criticized the fact that technological advances, instead of promoting encounter, have contributed to the isolation of young people, to the violation of privacy, and to allowing main educators to take a backseat because of Artificial Intelligence or the Internet.
POPE FRANCIS
Whereas parents, close relatives and educators must remain the main channels for the transmission of culture, for the sake of which governments should limit themselves to providing support for them…
The Pope regretted that the axis on which progress is based is economic profit and not the human person. In fact, he also made social criticism with some harsh statements.
POPE FRANCIS
More than ever before, humanity has come to know progress, development and wealth, yet perhaps never before has it found itself so lonely and lost, even at times preferring pets to children.
There was also criticism of abortion and euthanasia. He reiterated his request to take advantage of the Jubilee to examine one's conscience, reflect on relationships, and overcome what he called the "logic of disagreement”.
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