The Vatican presented Pope Francis' message for the 55th World Day of Peace, which will take place on Jan. 1.
The message for 2022 focuses on three essential areas every individual can work on to build lasting peace. They are education, “labor as a means for the full realization of human dignity,” and intergenerational dialogue.
CARD. PETER TURKSON
Prefect, Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
“So fashioning peace may not be placed only in the hands of politicians and big actors, but ordinary people need to be taken on board, because at the end of the day, it is the well-being of people that is at stake, that is considered, and their dignity is what counts.”
In his message the Pope underlines the important role young people play in fostering world peace and ending wars among peoples and against the environment.
SR. ALESSANDRA SMERILLI
Undersecretary, Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
“Young people, who are always at the center of Pope Francis' magisterium, by now are well aware that they are inside this conflict between us and the earth. They did not ask for it. They do not want it, but they know they are fighting to save the planet and us human beings, from this absurd conflict that our economic system has waged against the environment. And the Pope is with them.”
In his message, the Pope highlights the need to reduce military expenditures and instead invest more on education and health care.
He also calls for dignified working conditions in a labor market that has been negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially for short-term workers.
ABOUBAKAR SOUMAHORO
Labor Activist
“Surely the pandemic has aggravated poverty, but it's about a pre-existing condition. We're talking about people who cannot meet their own basic needs nor those of their family because of growing material inequality.”
It's an appeal to government leaders and all men and women of good will, to put peace and the common good ahead of individual interests.
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