Pope to G20: Address ongoing conflicts and migration for an inclusive and sustainable global economy
Following the request of Angela Merkel, Pope Francis writes to heads of state and government in Hamburg for the summit of the world's major economies. A "heartfelt appeal" to address the tragic situations of South Sudan, Lake Chad, Horn of Africa and Yemen, where there are 30 million people who have no food and water to survive. " The contradiction between apparent unity in the "common economic forums" and the persistence of "armed conflicts". Take an example from the great leaders of the recent past: Schuman, De Gasperi, Adenauer, Monnet. Bear in mind the great majority of the population, even though it represents only 10% of the world economy.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - For "inclusive and sustainable global economic growth" attention must be paid to "ongoing conflicts and the global migration problem", giving " absolute priority to the poor, refugees, the suffering, evacuees and the excluded, without distinction of nation, race, religion or culture, and to reject armed conflicts. "These are some of the suggestions Pope Francis offers to heads of state and government in Hamburg at the G20 in a letter sent by the Pope to Chancellor Angela Merkel after her request during their recent Vatican meeting last June 17 (see photo).
The pontiff expresses " I would like to offer some considerations that, together with all the Pastors of the Catholic Church," by referring them to "fo four principles of action for the building of fraternal, just and peaceful societies ", which he listed and explained in the Evangelii gaudium: "Time is greater than space; Unity prevails over conflict; Reality is more important than ideas; And whole is greater than the part. "
The first principle, time is superior to space, expresses that " there can be no immediate and completely satisfying solutions. " to problems of poverty, migration, and wars. That is why it is necessary - the Pope explains - to "set in motion processes that are capable of offering progressive and non-traumatic solutions." But for their effectiveness, it is crucial that “the final objective of the process is clearly present in its planning ". "In the minds and hearts of government leaders, and at every phase of the enactment of political measures, there is a need to give absolute priority to the poor, refugees, the suffering, evacuees and the excluded, without distinction of nation, race, religion or culture, and to reject armed conflicts. "
In particular, the Pope calls with "a heartfelt appeal" for “the tragic situation in South Sudan, the Lake Chad basin, the Horn of Africa and Yemen, where thirty million people are lacking the food and water needed to survive ".
On the second principle, unity prevails over the conflict, Francis asks the world "to put an end to the useless slaughters" of "current or potential conflicts". But this will not be possible "unless all parties commit themselves to substantially reducing levels of conflict, halting the present arms race and renouncing direct or indirect involvement in conflicts, as well as agreeing to discuss sincerely and transparently all their differences."
Explaining the consequences of the third principle, reality is more important than ideas, Francis recalls that "the fateful ideologies of the first half of the twentieth century have been replaced by new ideologies of absolute market autonomy and financial speculation (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 56). In their tragic wake, these bring exclusion, waste and even death. The significant political and economic achievements of the past century, on the other hand, were always marked by a sound and prudent pragmatism, guided by the primacy of the human being and the attempt to integrate and coordinate diverse and at times opposed realities, on the basis of respect for each and every citizen. I pray to God that the Hamburg Summit may be illumined by the example of those European and world leaders who consistently gave pride of place to dialogue and the quest of common solutions: Schuman, De Gasperi, Adenauer, Monnet and so many others."
From "the whole is greater than the parts", it follows that all solutions to the problems "must likewise consider eventual repercussions on all countries and their citizens, while respecting the views and opinions of the latter." For this reason, although the G20 embraces countries "which account for 90% of world production of goods and services", it must take into account the "great majority, which in economic terms counts for only 10% of the whole", but which “are precisely the ones who suffer most from the harmful effects of economic crises for which they bear little or no responsibility". Hence the call to work closely with the UN, to "respect and honor international treaties" and to "continue to promote multilateralism".
At the conclusion of the letter, Francis invokes the "God’s blessings upon the Hamburg meeting and on every effort of the international community to shape a new era of development that is innovative, interconnected, sustainable, environmentally respectful and inclusive of all peoples and all individuals".
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11/08/2017 20:05
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