Vatican City, 11 January 2016 (VIS) –
Today in the Sala Regia of the Vatican Apostolic Palace the Holy
Father today received in audience in the the Diplomatic Corps
accredited at the Holy See for the traditional new year exchange of
greetings. The Pope was first greeted by the new dean of the
Diplomatic Corps, Armindo Fernandes do Espirito Santo Vieira,
ambassador of Angola, and began his discourse by mentioning the
diplomats who died during this last month, the ambassadors of Cuba,
Rodney Alejandro Lopez Clemente, and of Liberia, Rudolf P. von
Ballmoos. He also welcomed those attending for the first time, noting
that the number of ambassadors resident in Rome has increased during
the last year. "It is an important sign of the interest with
which the international community follows the diplomatic activity of
the Holy See", he remarked.
Further proof of this interest is
offered by the international agreements signed or ratified during the
course of the year. In particular, Francis mentioned the agreements
of a fiscal nature with Italy and the United States of America,
"reflecting the increased commitment of the Holy See to greater
transparency in economic matters. No less important are the more
general agreements aimed at regulating essential aspects of the
Church’s life and activity in different countries, such as the
agreement sealed in Dili with the Democratic Republic of
Timor-Leste". He also cited the exchange of instruments of
ratification of the agreement with Chad on the legal status of the
Catholic Church in that country and the agreement signed and ratified
with Palestine, which together with the Memorandum of Understanding
between the Secretariat of State and the Foreign Affairs Minister of
Kuwait, demonstrate "how peaceful co-existence between the
followers of different religions is possible when religious freedom
is recognised and practical cooperation in the pursuit of the common
good, in a spirit of respect for the cultural identity of all
parties, is effectively guaranteed".
The Pope emphasised that the authentic
practice of religion cannot fail to promote peace. "The mystery
of the Incarnation shows us the real face of God, for whom power does
not mean force or destruction but love, and for whom justice is not
vengeance but mercy". It is in the light of this that we must
see the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, exceptionally inaugurated in
Bangui during his Apostolic Journey in Kenya, Uganda and the Central
African Republic.
"In a country sorely tried by
hunger, poverty and conflict, where fratricidal violence in recent
years has left deep wounds, rending the nation and creating material
and moral destitution, the opening of the Holy Door of Bangui
Cathedral was meant as a sign of encouragement to look ahead, to set
out anew and resume dialogue. There, where God’s name has been
misused to perpetrate injustice, I wanted to reaffirm, together with
the Muslim community of the Central African Republic, that 'those who
claim to believe in God must also be men and women of peace' and
consequently of mercy, for one may never kill in the name of God.
Only a distorted ideological form of religion can think that justice
is done in the name of the Almighty by deliberately slaughtering
defenceless persons, as in the brutal terrorist attacks which
occurred in recent months in Africa, Europe and the Middle East".
The Pope went on to reflect on his
Apostolic trips throughout the course of the year, linked by the
common thread of mercy, starting with Sarajevo, "a city deeply
scarred by the war in the Balkans and the capital of a country,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is uniquely significant for Europe and
the entire world. As a crossroads of cultures, nations and religions,
it is working successfully to build new bridges, to encourage those
things which unite, and to see differences as opportunities for
growth in respect for all".
In Bolivia, Ecuador and Paraguay, he
encountered "peoples who have not given up in the face of
difficulties, and who are facing with courage, determination and
solidarity their many challenges, beginning with widespread poverty
and social inequality", he said. "During my journey to Cuba
and the United States of America, I was able to embrace two countries
which were long divided and which have decided to write a new page of
history, embarking on the path of closer ties and reconciliation".
"In Philadelphia for the World
Meeting of Families, during my Journey to Sri Lanka and to the
Philippines, and more recently with the Synod of Bishops, I
reaffirmed the centrality of the family, which is the first and most
important school of mercy, in which we learn to see God’s loving
face and to mature and develop as human beings. Sadly, we recognise
the numerous challenges presently facing families, 'threatened by
growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution
of marriage by relativism, by the culture of the ephemeral, by a lack
of openness to life'. Today there is a widespread fear of the
definitive commitment demanded by the family; those who pay the price
are the young, who are often vulnerable and uncertain, and the
elderly, who end up being neglected and abandoned".
The Pope went on to ask the ambassadors
to reflect on "the poor, the marginalised and the 'least' of
society", and in particular on the "grave crisis of
migration we are facing, in order to discern its causes, to consider
possible solutions, and to overcome the inevitable fears associated
with this massive and formidable phenomenon, which in 2015 has mainly
concerned Europe, but also various regions of Asia and North and
Central America".
"The Bible as a whole recounts the
history of a humanity on the move, for mobility is part of our human
nature", he added. "Human history is made up of countless
migrations, sometimes out of an awareness of the right to choose
freely, and often dictated by external circumstances. From the
banishment from Eden to Abraham’s journey to the promised land,
from the Exodus story to the deportation to Babylon, sacred Scripture
describes the struggles and sufferings, the desires and hopes, which
are shared by the hundreds of thousands of persons on the move today,
possessed of the same determination which Moses had to reach a land
flowing with 'milk and honey', a land of freedom and peace.
Now as then, we hear Rachel weeping for her children who are no more.
Hers is the plea of thousands of people who weep as they flee
horrific wars, persecutions and human rights violations, or political
or social instability, which often make it impossible for them to
live in their native lands. It is the outcry of those forced to flee
in order to escape unspeakable acts of cruelty towards vulnerable
persons, such as children and the disabled, or martyrdom solely on
account of their religion".
"Now as then, we hear Jacob saying
to his sons: 'Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live
and not die'. His is the voice of all those who flee extreme poverty,
inability to feed their families or to receive medical care and
education, hopeless squalor or the effects of climate change and
extreme weather conditions. Sadly, we know that hunger continues to
be one of the gravest banes of our world, leading to the death of
millions of children every year. It is painful to realise, however,
that often these migrants are not included in international systems
of protection based on international agreements".
"How can we not see in all this
the effects of that 'culture of waste' which endangers the human
person, sacrificing men and women before the idols of profit and
consumption? It is a grievous fact that we grow so inured to such
situations of poverty and need, to these tragedies affecting so many
lives, that they appear 'normal'. … We have grown indifferent to
all sorts of waste, starting with the waste of food, which is all the
more deplorable when so many individuals and families suffer hunger
and malnutrition".
"The Holy See trusts that, amid
today’s sad context of conflicts and disasters, the First World
Humanitarian Summit, convened by the United Nations for May 2016,
will succeed in its goal of placing the person and human dignity at
the heart of every humanitarian response. What is needed is a common
commitment which can decisively turn around the culture of waste and
lack of respect for human life, so that no one will feel neglected or
forgotten, and that no further lives will be sacrificed due to the
lack of resources and, above all, of political will".
We also hear today "the voice of
Judah who counsels selling his own brother. His is the arrogance of
the powerful who exploit the weak, reducing them to means for their
own ends or for strategic and political schemes. Where regular
migration is impossible, migrants are often forced to turn to human
traffickers or smugglers, even though they are aware that in the
course of their journey they may well lose their possessions, their
dignity and even their lives. In this context I once more appeal for
an end to trafficking in persons, which turns human beings,
especially the weakest and most defenceless, into commodities. The
image of all those children who died at sea, victims of human
callousness and harsh weather, will remain forever imprinted on our
minds and hearts. Those who survive and reach a country which
accepts them bear the deep and indelible scars of these experiences,
in addition to those left by the atrocities which always accompany
wars and violence".
"Now as then, we hear the angel
say: 'Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and
remain there till I tell you'. His is the voice heard by many
migrants who would never have left their homeland had they not been
forced to. Among these are many Christians who in great numbers have
abandoned their native lands these past years, despite the fact that
they have dwelt there from the earliest days of Christianity.
Finally, we also hear today the voice of the Psalmist: 'By the waters
of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion'. His
is the cry of those who would readily return to their own country, if
only there they could find adequate conditions of security and
sustenance. Here too my thoughts turn to the Christians of the Middle
East, who desire to contribute fully as citizens to the spiritual and
material well-being of their respective nations".
"Many of the causes of migration
could have been addressed some time ago", the Holy Father
commented. "So many disasters could have been prevented, or at
least their harshest effects mitigated. Today too, before it is too
late, much could be done to end these tragedies and to build peace.
But that would mean rethinking entrenched habits and practices,
beginning with issues involving the arms trade, the provision of raw
materials and energy, investment, policies of financing and
sustainable development, and even the grave scourge of corruption. We
all know, too, that with regard to migration there is a need for
mid-term and long-term planning which is not limited to emergency
responses. Such planning should include effective assistance for
integrating migrants in their receiving countries, while also
promoting the development of their countries of origin through
policies inspired by solidarity, yet not linking assistance to
ideological strategies and practices alien or contrary to the
cultures of the peoples being assisted".
"Without overlooking other
dramatic situations – in this regard, I think particularly of the
border between Mexico and the United States of America, which I will
be near when I visit Ciudad Juarez next month – my thoughts turn in
a special way to Europe. Over the past year Europe has witnessed a
great wave of refugees – many of whom died in the attempt – a
wave unprecedented in recent history, not even after the end of the
Second World War. Many migrants from Asia and Africa see in Europe a
beacon for principles such as equality before the law and for values
inherent in human nature, including the inviolable dignity and
equality of every person, love of neighbour regardless of origin or
affiliation, freedom of conscience and solidarity towards our fellow
men and women".
"All the same, the massive number
of arrivals on the shores of Europe appear to be overburdening the
system of reception painstakingly built on the ashes of the Second
World War, a system that is still an acknowledged beacon of humanity.
Given the immense influx and the inevitable problems it creates, a
number of questions have be raised about the real possibilities for
accepting and accommodating people, about changes in the cultural and
social structures of the receiving countries, and about the reshaping
of certain regional geopolitical balances. Equally significant are
fears about security, further exacerbated by the growing threat of
international terrorism. The present wave of migration seems to be
undermining the foundations of that 'humanistic spirit' which Europe
has always loved and defended. Yet there should be no loss of the
values and principles of humanity, respect for the dignity of every
person, mutual subsidiarity and solidarity, however much they may
prove, in some moments of history, a burden difficult to bear. I
wish, then, to reaffirm my conviction that Europe, aided by its great
cultural and religious heritage, has the means to defend the
centrality of the human person and to find the right balance between
its twofold moral responsibility to protect the rights of its
citizens and to ensure assistance and acceptance to migrants".
Francis expressed his gratitude for the
initiatives that have been adopted in order to provide a dignified
reception to these persons, such as the Migrant and Refugee Fund of
the Council of Europe Development Bank, and the generous solidarity
shown by a number of countries. "I also have in mind the nations
neighbouring Syria, which have responded immediately with help and
acceptance, especially Lebanon, where refugees make up a fourth of
the total population, and Jordan, which has not closed its borders
despite the fact that it already harbours hundreds of thousands of
refugees. Nor should we overlook the efforts made by other countries
in the front lines, especially Turkey and Greece. I wish to express
particular gratitude to Italy, whose decisive commitment has saved
many lives in the Mediterranean, and which continues to accept
responsibility on its territory for a massive number of refugees. It
is my hope that the traditional sense of hospitality and solidarity
which distinguishes the Italian people will not be weakened by the
inevitable difficulties of the moment, but that, in light of its
age-old tradition, the nation may prove capable of accepting and
integrating the social, economic and cultural contribution which
migrants can offer".
"It is important that nations in
the forefront of meeting the present emergency not be left alone, and
it is also essential to initiate a frank and respectful dialogue
among all the countries involved in the problem – countries of
origin, transit, or reception - so that, with greater boldness and
creativity, new and sustainable solutions can be sought. As things
presently stand, there is no place for autonomous solutions pursued
by individual states, since the consequences of the decisions made by
each inevitably have repercussions on the entire international
community. Indeed, migrations, more then ever before, will play a
pivotal role in the future of our world, and our response can only be
the fruit of a common effort respectful of human dignity and the
rights of persons. The Development Agenda adopted last September by
the United Nations for the next fifteen years, which deals with many
of the problems causing migration, and other documents of the
international community on handling the issue of migration, will be
able to find application consistent with expectations if they are
able to put the person at the centre of political decisions at every
level, seeing humanity as one family, and all people as brothers and
sisters, with respect for mutual differences and convictions of
conscience".
"In facing the issue of
migrations, one cannot overlook its cultural implications, beginning
with those linked to religious affiliation. Extremism and
fundamentalism find fertile soil not only in the exploitation of
religion for purposes of power, but also in the vacuum of ideals and
the loss of identity – including religious identity – which
dramatically marks the so-called West. This vacuum gives rise to the
fear which leads to seeing the other as a threat and an enemy, to
closed-mindedness and intransigence in defending preconceived
notions. The phenomenon of migration raises a serious cultural issue
which necessarily demands a response. The acceptance of migrants can
thus prove a good opportunity for new understanding and broader
horizons, both on the part of those accepted, who have the
responsibility to respect the values, traditions and laws of the
community which takes them in, and on the part of the latter, who are
called to acknowledge the beneficial contribution which each
immigrant can make to the whole community. In this context, the Holy
See reaffirms its commitment in the ecumenical and interreligious
sectors to inaugurating a sincere and respectful dialogue which, by
valuing the distinctness and identity of each individual, can foster
a harmonious coexistence among all the members of society".
The Pope remarked that the conclusion
of important international agreements during 2015 may give solid hope
for the future. Firstly, there was the so-called Iran nuclear deal
and the long-awaited agreement on climate at the Paris Conference,
which "represents for the entire international community an
important achievement; it reflects a powerful collective realisation
of the grave responsibility incumbent on individuals and nations to
protect creation, to promote a 'culture of care which permeates all
of society'. It is now essential that those commitments prove more
than simply a good intention, but rather a genuine duty incumbent on
all states to do whatever is needed to safeguard our beloved earth
for the sake of all mankind, especially generations yet to come".
The year which has just begun promises,
he said, to be "full of challenges and more than a few tensions
have already appeared on the horizon. I think above all of the
serious disagreements which have arisen in the Persian Gulf region,
as well as the disturbing military test conducted on the Korean
peninsula. It is my hope that these conflicts will be open to the
voice of peace and a readiness to seek agreements. Here I note with
satisfaction of certain significant and particularly encouraging
gestures. I think especially of the climate of peaceful coexistence
in which the recent elections in the Central African Republic were
held; these are a positive sign of the will to persevere on the path
to full national reconciliation. I also think of the new initiatives
under way in Cyprus to heal a long-standing division, and to the
efforts being made by the Colombian people to leave behind past
conflicts and to attain the long-awaited peace. We all look with hope
to the important steps made by the international community to achieve
a political and diplomatic solution of the crisis in Syria, one which
can put a long overdue end to the sufferings of the population. The
signals coming from Libya are likewise encouraging and offer the hope
of a renewed commitment to ending violence and re-establishing the
country’s unity. On the other hand, it appears increasingly evident
that only a common and agreed political action will prove able to
stem the spread of extremism and fundamentalism, which spawn
terrorist acts which reap countless victims, not only in Syria and
Libya, but in other countries like Iraq and Yemen".
"May this Holy Year of Mercy also
be the occasion of dialogue and reconciliation aimed at consolidating
the common good in Burundi, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
and in South Sudan. Above all, may it be a favourable time for
definitively ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Of fundamental
importance is the support which the international community,
individual states and humanitarian organisations can offer the
country from a number of standpoints, in order to surmount the
present crisis. Yet the greatest challenge we face is that of
overcoming indifference and working together for peace, which remains
a good which must constantly be sought. Sadly, among the many parts
of our beloved world which long fervently for peace, there is the
land for which God showed a particular love and chose to show to all
the face of his mercy. I pray that this new year can heal the deep
wounds dividing Israelis and Palestinians, and enable the peaceful
coexistence of two peoples who – of this I am sure – in the
depths of their heart ask only for peace".
The Pope concluded his address by
reiterating that on the diplomatic level, the Holy See "will
never cease its efforts to enable the message of peace to be heard to
the ends of the earth. I thus reiterate the complete readiness of the
Secretariat of State to cooperate with you in favouring constant
dialogue between the Apostolic See and the countries which you
represent, for the benefit of the entire international community. I
am certain that this Jubilee year will be a favourable occasion for
the cold indifference of so many hearts to be won over by the warmth
of mercy, that precious gift of God which turns fear into love and
makes us artisans of peace. With these sentiments I renew to each of
you, to your families and your countries, my heartfelt good wishes
for a blessed New Year".
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