Pope: “throwaway culture applied even to God" at the origin of the many conflicts that wound the world
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The "the throwaway culture even applied to God" is the origin of many issues that stretch from fundamentalism to the rejection of those forced to leave their homeland and which contribute to undermining the desire for peace in the world. This was the tone of the address that Pope Francis gave in his overview of international events in the past year just in his New Year greetings to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See in the Sala Regia of the Apostolic Palace.
The Pope traditionally uses the occasion to examine the global situation
and Francis listed conflicts from the Middle East, Nigeria, Pakistan to Libya, describing
them as "true world war fought piecemeal". He recalled the attacks in Paris, and
even rapes. But not only shadows. In
the Pope's lengthy address there was also room for the
highlights of the new relations between
the US and Cuba, the negotiations
on the Iranian nuclear issue, the desire to close Guantanamo, the fight against Ebola,
interreligious dialogue in Turkey, the
peaceful coexistence between different
faiths in Albania.
The Pope's speech started from the image of
Christmas, where next to the
angels who proclaim peace,
there is the "tragic
reality" of rejection. "The
Christmas stories themselves show us the hardened heart of a humanity which
finds it difficult to accept the Child. From the very start, he is cast aside,
left out in the cold, forced to be born in a stable since there was no room in
the inn (cf. Lk 2:7). If this is how the Son of God was treated, how much more
so is it the case with so many of our brothers and sisters! Rejection is an
attitude we all share; it makes us see our neighbour not as a brother or sister
to be accepted, but as unworthy of our attention, a rival, or someone to be
bent to our will. This is the mind-set which fosters that "throwaway culture"
which spares nothing and no one: nature, human beings, even God himself. It
gives rise to a humanity filled with pain and constantly torn by tensions and
conflicts of every sort".
"Emblematic of this, in the Gospel infancy narratives, is King Herod. Feeling his authority threatened by the Child Jesus, he orders all the children of Bethlehem to be killed. We think immediately of Pakistan, where a month ago, more than a hundred children were slaughtered with unspeakable brutality. To their families I wish to renew my personal condolences and the assurance of my continued prayers for the many innocents who lost their lives. The personal dimension of rejection is inevitably accompanied by a social dimension, a culture of rejection which severs the deepest and most authentic human bonds, leading to the breakdown of society and spawning violence and death. We see painful evidence of this in the events reported daily in the news, not least the tragic slayings which took place in Paris a few days ago".
"It saddens us to see the tragic consequences of this mentality of rejection and this "culture of enslavement" (ibid., 2) in the never-ending spread of conflicts. Like a true world war fought piecemeal, they affect, albeit in different forms and degrees of intensity, a number of areas in our world, beginning with nearby Ukraine, which has become a dramatic theatre of combat. It is my hope that through dialogue the efforts presently being made to end the hostilities will be consolidated". Dialouge is also needed between Israelis and Palestinians as they search for "a solution which can enable Palestinians and Israelis alike to live at last in peace within clearly established and internationally recognized borders, thus implementing the "two state solution".
"The Middle East is tragically embroiled in other conflicts which have lasted far too long, with chilling repercussions, due also to the spread of fundamentalist terrorism in Syria and in Iraq. This phenomenon is a consequence of the throwaway culture being applied to God. Religious fundamentalism, even before it eliminates human beings by perpetrating horrendous killings, eliminates God himself, turning him into a mere ideological pretext. In the face of such unjust aggression, which also strikes Christians and other ethnic and religious groups in the region, a unanimous response is needed, one which, within the framework of international law, can end the spread of acts of violence, restore harmony and heal the deep wounds which the ongoing conflicts have caused. Here, in your presence, I appeal to the entire international community, as I do to the respective governments involved, to take concrete steps to bring about peace and to protect all those who are victims of war and persecution, driven from their homes and their homeland". The Pope continued "A Middle East without Christians would be a marred and mutilated Middle East! In urging the international community not to remain indifferent in the face of this situation, I express my hope that religious, political and intellectual leaders, especially those of the Muslim community, will condemn all fundamentalist and extremist interpretations of religion which attempt to justify such acts of violence".
The thought of the Pope then went to Nigeria,
where he also mentioned "in the tragic phenomenon of kidnappings, often of
young girls carried off to be made objects of trafficking. This is an
abominable trade which must not continue!". Still in Africa, Francis recalled the
conflicts in Libya, Central African Republic, Sudan and South Sudan, the Horn of
Africa and the Democratic Republic
of Congo. For such situations Francis called
for "a common commitment on the part
of individual governments and the international community to end every form of
fighting, hatred and violence, and to pursue reconciliation, peace and the
defence of the transcendent dignity of the person".
"Nor can we overlook the fact that wars
involve another horrendous crime, the crime of rape. This is a most grave
offense against the dignity of women, who are not only violated in body but
also in spirit, resulting in a trauma hard to erase and with effects on society
as well. Sadly, even apart from situations of war, all too many women even
today are victims of violence".
"Every conflict and war is emblematic of the
throwaway culture, since people's lives are deliberately crushed by those in
power. Yet that culture is also fuelled by more subtle and insidious forms of
rejection. I think in the first place of the way the sick are treated; often
they are cast aside and marginalized like the lepers in the Gospel. Among the
lepers of our own day we can count the victims of the new and terrible outbreak
of Ebola which, especially in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, has already
taken over six thousand lives. Today I wish publicly to praise and thank those
healthcare workers who, alongside men and women religious and volunteers, are
caring in every way possible for the sick and their families, especially
orphaned children. At the same time I renew my appeal to the entire
international community to provide adequate humanitarian assistance to patients
and to make concerted efforts to combat the disease".
"Alongside the lives discarded because of war
or disease, there are many refugees and
displaced persons." People fleeing
conflicts that do not go "leave not so much in search of a better future,
but any future at all, since remaining at home can mean certain death. How many
persons lose their lives during these cruel journeys, the victims of
unscrupulous and greedy thugs? ". " Then
too there is the alarming fact that many immigrants, especially in the
Americas, are unaccompanied children, all the more at risk and in need of
greater care, attention and protection." "Often coming
without documents to strange lands whose language they do not speak, migrants
find it difficult to be accepted and to find work. In addition to the
uncertainties of their flight, they have to face the drama of rejection. A
change of attitude is needed on our part, moving from indifference and fear to
genuine acceptance of others. This of course calls for "enacting adequate
legislation to protect the rights of... citizens and to ensure the acceptance of
immigrants" (ibid.). I thank all those who, even at the cost of their lives,
are working to assist refugees and immigrants, and I urge states and
international organizations to make every effort to resolve these grave
humanitarian problems and to provide the immigrants' countries of origin with
forms of aid which can help promote their social and political development and
settle their internal conflicts, which are the chief cause of this phenomenon".
"Together with immigrants, displaced people
and refugees, there are many other "hidden exiles" (Angelus, 29 December 2013)
living in our homes and in our families. I think especially of the elderly, the
handicapped and young people. The elderly encounter rejection when they are
considered a "burdensome presence" (ibid.), while the young are thrown away
when they are denied concrete prospects of employment to build their future. Indeed,
there is no poverty worse than that which takes away work and the dignity of
work (cf. Address to Participants in the World Meeting of Popular Movements, 28
October 2014), or which turns work into a form of enslavement. "
"Then too, the family itself is not
infrequently considered disposable, thanks to the spread of an individualistic
and self-centred culture which severs human bonds and leads to a dramatic fall
in birth rates, as well as legislation which benefits various forms of
cohabitation rather than adequately supporting the family for the welfare of
society as a whole.
Among the causes of these realities is a model of globalization which levels
out differences and even discards cultures, cutting them off from those factors
which shape each people's identity and constitute a legacy essential to their
sound social development. In a drab, anonymous world, it is easy to understand
the difficulties and the discouragement felt by many people who have literally
lost the sense of being alive. This tragic situation is aggravated by the
continuing economic crisis, which fosters pessimism and social conflict".
But "at
the beginning of a new year, though, we do not wish our outlook to be dominated
by pessimism, or the defects and deficiencies of the present time. We also want
to thank God for the gifts and blessings he has bestowed upon us, for the
occasions of dialogue and encounter which he has granted us, and for the fruits
of peace which he has enabled us to savour. I experienced an eloquent sign that
the culture of encounter is possible during my visit to Albania, a nation full
of young people who represent hope for the future. Despite the painful events
of its recent history, the country is marked by the "peaceful coexistence and
collaboration that exists among followers of different religions" (Address to
Authorities, Tirana, 21 September 2014), in an atmosphere of respect and mutual
trust between Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims. This is an important sign that
sincere faith in God makes one open to others, generates dialogue and works for
the good, whereas violence is always the product of a falsification of
religion, its use as a pretext for ideological schemes whose only goal is power
over others. Similarly, in my recent journey to Turkey, a historic bridge
between East and West, I was able to see the fruits of ecumenical and
interreligious dialogue, as well as efforts made to assist refugees from other
countries of the Middle East. I also encountered this spirit of openness in
Jordan, which I visited at the beginning of my pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and
in the testimonies which come from Lebanon, a country which I pray will
overcome its current political problems".
"One example close to my heart of how
dialogue can build bridges comes from the recent decision of the United States
of America and Cuba to end a lack of communication which has endured for more
than half a century, and to initiate a rapprochement for the benefit of their
respective citizens". In this perspective, the Pope mentioned the
initiatives underway in Burkina Faso, the Philippines, Colombia
and Venezuela. "I
also hope - he continued - that
a definitive agreement may soon be reached between Iran and the 5+1 Group
regarding the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and my appreciation
of the efforts already made in this regard. I note with satisfaction the
intention of the United States to close the Guantanamo detention facilities,
while acknowledging the generous willingness of several countries to receive
the detainees. Finally, I would like to express my appreciation and
encouragement to those countries actively engaged in promoting human
development, political stability and civil coexistence between their citizens".
Recalling that the UN turns 70 this year, Francis
cited Paul VI who
said, in 1965, at the UN, "the blood of millions, countless unheard-of
sufferings, useless massacres and frightening ruins have sanctioned the
agreement that unites you with an oath that ought to change the future of the
world: never again war, never again war! It is peace, peace, that has to guide
the destiny of the nations of all mankind". "It's also - he concluded - is likewise my own hope-filled prayer for this new
year, which, for that matter, will see the continuation of two significant
processes: the drawing up of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, with the
adoption of Sustainable Development Goals, and the drafting of a new Climate
Change Agreement. The indispensable presupposition of all these is peace,
which, even more than an end to all wars, is the fruit of heartfelt conversion".
.png)
02/01/2023 13:29
