On the day World Peace Day is celebrated, Pope Francis called for an end to all wars and conflicts. In a crowded square in S. Pedro, the leader of the Catholic Church recalled that peace is the only way.
This Wednesday, Pope Francis asked countries with a Christian tradition to cancel or reduce the debts of the poorest countries.
Francis took advantage of the Angelus prayer for the New Year, which coincides with World Day of Peace, to make this appeal in favor of the poorest countries.
“I encourage the governments of countries with a Christian tradition to set a good example, canceling or reducing as much as possible the debt of the poorest countries”, appealed Francis, from the Apostolic Palace, to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, in the Vatican.
The Pope insisted on the issue of debt cancellation as part of the Jubilee, a festival to be celebrated in 2025, in which the Church grants indulgences or the forgiveness of sins.
Therefore, he called for “translating this forgiveness at a social level, so that no person, no family and no people” are marked by the weight of debt.
“War always destroys, it is always a defeat, always”
In anticipation of World Peace Day, Francisco also thanked “all prayer initiatives for peace”.
The Pope also alluded to the existing wars in the world and reiterated the need to end them.
“I express my sincere gratitude to all who work for dialogue and negotiations in the many areas of conflict” around the world. “We pray for an end to fighting on all fronts and for a definitive focus on peace and reconciliation.”
As usual, the Pope once again referred to places in conflict, such as Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, Myanmar and many other peoples at war.
“I saw images and photographs of the destruction that war causes. War always destroys, it is always a defeat, always”, he concluded.
With Lusa
