In the Vatican, Francis met with the diplomatic corps at the Holy See for the traditional exchange of greetings. In his address, the pontiff expressed hope for peace in Ukraine in 2025, as he did for Palestine and Israel so that the two may “live side by side". In Syria and Lebanon, the Christian community should help the two countries pursue “a path of stability.”

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The "family of peoples" of the world, represented by the Members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See representing 184 countries, gathered around Pope Francis this morning in the Hall of Benediction in the Vatican.

This highlights the pontiff’s international commitment. In September he visited Southeast Asia and Oceania on the longest trip of his pontificate, and is looking to the future after some important results from the recent past, like the extension of the Agreement on episcopal appointments in October with China.

Georgios F. Poulides, ambassador of Cyprus and dean of the diplomatic corps, opened the traditional exchange of New Year greetings. “Today's meeting is nourished by the spirit of the Jubilee," he said, adding that diplomats must have the "courage to be creative to strengthen unity in diversity."

In the few words Pope Francis read at the start of his address, before leaving the reading by Mgr Filippo Ciampanelli, undersecretary of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches, he stressed the "family" nature of the event and hoped that the occasion would induce people to “leave behind the disputes that divide us and instead [. . .] find what unites us.”

As Ambassador Poulides put it, the meeting of the Diplomatic Corps was imbued with the meanings that accompany the Holy Year that began on 24 December in St Peter's.

“For the Jubilee is meant to help us step back from the increasingly frenzied pace of daily life [. . .] to pardon offences, to support the weak and the poor in our midst, to give rest and relief to the Earth, to practise justice and to recover hope.”

For Francis, this is the task of those who, engaged in diplomatic missions, exercise "the highest form of charity": politics.

The rest of the speech was inspired by Isaiah's words. Christ, said the prophet, came “to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (Is 61:1-2a).

These trace the trajectory to be followed towards the common good even though they are little considered in the actual world.-

“Sadly, we begin this year as the world finds itself rent by numerous conflicts, large and small, more or less known, but also by the resumption of heinous acts of terror,” Francis said.

We live in is a planet oppressed by "growing conflictual social and political tensions” and “increasingly polarized societies”, a climate that does not convey confidence in the future at all, with demarcation lines as the most evident signs.

“This climate of insecurity leads to the erection of new barriers and the drawing of new borders, whereas others, such as the one that has divided the island of Cyprus for over fifty years and the one that has cut in two the Korean peninsula for over seventy, remain firmly in place,” he added.

Misunderstandings about identity are often at the root of this unease towards what is "not known", so that “diversity becomes a reason for mistrust, distrust and fear”.

Yet, boundaries are also meeting places. The “word ‘border’ (confine in Italian) does not mean a place that separates, but one that unites ( cum-finis), where one can meet others, get to know them, and enter into dialogue with them”.

For this reason, it is more important than ever to pursue what Pope Francis calls a "diplomacy of hope", inspired by the words of Isaiah and the Jubilee.

First of all, this means being committed to "foster dialogue with all parties,” which is the first step towards defusing “the explosive power of human selfishness, pride and arrogance”.

To this end, understanding each other, starting with language, is fundamental. Hence, Pope Francis slammed attempts “to manipulate multilateral documents” and “cancel culture”.

He also spoke out strongly against terrorism in Germany and the United States, anti-Semitism, and the “right to abortion”, deemed “unacceptable”, highlighting the need to reform some institutions, breathing new life into the spirit that led to the Helsinki Declaration in 1975.

Forgiveness is one of the central features of the “diplomacy of hope”, especially true “at a time full of open or latent conflicts,” since it allows for “mending relationships torn by hatred and violence”.

Turning his thoughts to the wars raging at the gates of Europe. “My wish for the year 2025 is that the entire international community will work above all to end the conflict that, for almost three years now, has caused so much bloodshed in war-torn Ukraine and has taken an enormous toll of lives,” Mgr Ciampanelli said reading the pontiff’s speech.

The next wish was dedicated to the conflict between Palestine and Israel. The pope expressed hope that “Israelis and Palestinians can rebuild the bridges of dialogue” and “future generations can live side by side in the two States, in peace and security, and that Jerusalem can be the “city of encounter” for Christians, Jews and Muslims living “together in harmony and respect.”

Francis also spoke about Myanmar, “where the population suffers greatly from the constant armed clashes that are forcing people to flee their homes and to live in fear.”

He also emphasised the need to guarantee religious freedom everywhere, without which "there can be no true peace”.

As for Syria, the pope noted that “after years of war and devastation, [it] seems to be pursuing a path of stability.” His hope is that the country, which has re-emerged from years of dictatorship, will be “a land of peaceful coexistence” with the help of the international community.

Speaking about Lebanon, he said he was hopeful “that the country, with the decisive help of its Christian community, can possess the necessary institutional stability needed to address the grave economic and social situation, to rebuild the south of the country affected by war”.

• vatican
• pope francis
• diplomatic corps
• address
• peace
• war
• hope