Pope: Thinking about nuclear weapons is madness

New warning from Francis during the general audience in the face of the news coming from Russia and Ukraine. "Card. Krajewski yesterday told me on the phone the monstrosity of the tortured corpses that were found. Let us unite with the martyred Ukrainian people'. He retraced the stages and meetings of his trip to Kazakhstan. Prayer and appeal for Alzheimer's sufferers and their families to be supported.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The ongoing war leads some to think about nuclear weapons. A madness." As the news from Russia and Ukraine dramatically evokes once again the shadow of an atomic conflict, Pope Francis returned this morning to denounce the madness of this horizon during the general audience held in St. Peter's Square, during which he retraced his apostolic journey last week to Kazakhstan.

The Central Asian country was cited by the Pontiff as an example of a land that "has been able to say no to nuclear weapons" and undertake "good energy and environmental policies".

And to the "terrible situation in Ukraine" Francis invited the faithful to continue to turn their thoughts. "Cardinal Krajewski (the papal almoner ed.) went there for the fourth time. He phoned me yesterday from the Odessa area, he told me about the pain of this people, the monstrosity of the tortured corpses they find. Let us unite with this tormented people'.

Returning to the trip to Kazakhstan, the Pontiff recalled the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, promoted by the local government for thirty years, which was in Nur-Sultan the heart of the apostolic visit. Francis extolled the decision to put "religions at the centre of the commitment to build a world where we listen to each other and respect each other in diversity".

The final declaration of this appointment, signed together with the pope by religious leaders from 50 countries, "stands in continuity with the one signed in Abu Dhabi in February 2019 on human brotherhood. I like to interpret this step forward," Francis added, "as the fruit of a journey that starts from afar: I am of course thinking of the historic Interfaith Meeting for Peace convened by Saint John Paul II in Assisi in 1986, which was so much criticised by people who lacked foresight.  I am thinking of the gaze of St John XXIII and St Paul VI; and also of the gaze of great souls of other religions, among whom I would just mention Mahatma Gandhi. But how can we not remember so many martyrs, men and women of every age, language and nation, who have paid with their lives for their fidelity to the God of peace and fraternity?".

"We know," he continued, "the solemn moments are important, but then it is the daily commitment, it is the concrete witness that builds a better world for all.

The Pope then recalled how the trip to Kazakhstan was an opportunity to meet the small local Catholic community. "I was so happy," Francis commented, "to meet a community of happy, joyful people, with enthusiasm. Catholics are few in that vast country. But this condition, if lived with faith, can bring evangelical fruits: first of all, the blessedness of littleness, of being leaven, salt and light, relying solely on the Lord and not on some form of human importance. Moreover, numerical shortage invites one to develop relations with Christians of other denominations, and also fraternity with all. So small flock, yes, but open, not closed, not defensive, open and trusting in the action of the Holy Spirit, who blows freely where and how He wills'.

In his greetings at the end of the audience, Pope Francis then mentioned today's World Day for the fight against Alzheimer's, "a disease that affects so many people who often find themselves on the margins of society. Let us pray for the sick, their families, those who care for them, that they may be more supported and helped".

Finally, recalling today's liturgical feast of the evangelist Saint Matthew, he took the opportunity to "exhort everyone to place themselves in the school of the Gospel: you will find light and support for your journey in the words of Christ".

Photo: VaticanNews

• Pope Francis
• audience
• nuclear weapons
• war
• Ukraine
• Krajewski