Leo XIV: “All Religions Quest for One Divine Mystery”
- This past year saw […] the return to the Father’s house of my venerable predecessor, Pope Francis. The whole world gathered around his coffin on the day of his funeral, and sensed the loss of a father who had guided the People of God with immense pastoral charity.
- The weakness of multilateralism is a particular cause for concern at the international level. A diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force, by either individuals or groups of allies.
Peace as Domination
- War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading.
- The principle established after the Second World War, which prohibited nations from using force to violate the borders of others, has been completely undermined.
- “Peace” is sought through weapons as a condition for asserting one’s own dominion. This gravely threatens the rule of law, which is the foundation of all peaceful civil coexistence.
Trust the … United Nations
- From the ashes of the Second World War, the United Nations was born, whose eightieth anniversary was recently celebrated. The UN was established by the determination of fifty-one nations as the center of multilateral cooperation in order to prevent future global catastrophes.
- Compliance with the international humanitarian law cannot depend on mere circumstances and military or strategic interests.
- The UN should play a key role in fostering dialogue and humanitarian support, helping to build a more just future.
“West Dominated by Orwellian Language”
- Rediscovering the meaning of words is perhaps one of the primary challenges of our time. When words lose their connection to reality, and reality itself becomes debatable and ultimately incommunicable.
- In the contortions of semantic ambiguity, language is becoming more and more a weapon with which to deceive, or to strike and offend opponents.
- It is painful to see how, especially in the West, the space for genuine freedom of expression is rapidly shrinking.
- A new Orwellian-style language is developing which, in an attempt to be increasingly inclusive, ends up excluding those who do not conform to the ideologies that are fueling it.
States Undermine Freedoms
- This leads to other consequences that end up restricting fundamental human rights, starting with the freedom of conscience.
- Freedom of conscience seems increasingly to be questioned by States.
- Conscientious objection … may be the refusal of military service in the name of non-violence, or the refusal on the part of doctors and healthcare professionals to engage in practices such as abortion or euthanasia.
Progress along the Path of Inter-Religious Dialogue
- Most recent data show that violations of religious freedom are on the rise, and that sixty-four percent of the world’s population suffers serious violations of this right.
- The meeting with representatives of other religions allowed me to renew my appreciation for the progress made in recent decades along the path of interreligious dialogue.
- In every sincere religious quest there is a reflection of the one divine Mystery that embraces all creation.
“Nor Do I Forget the Victims of Jihadist Violence”
- I ask all the nations to guarantee full freedom of religion and worship to each of their citizens.
- I would especially call to mind the many victims of violence, including religiously motivated violence in Bangladesh, in the Sahel region and in Nigeria, as well as those of the serious terrorist attack last June on the parish of Saint Elias in Damascus. Nor do I forget the victims of jihadist violence in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.
Do Not Undermine Dignity of Migrants!
- It cannot be overlooked, for example, that every migrant is a person and, as such, has inalienable rights that must be respected in every situation.
- Not all migrants move by choice, but many are forced to flee because of violence, persecution, conflict and even the effects of climate change, as in various parts of Africa and Asia.
- I renew the Holy See’s hope that the actions taken by States against criminality and human trafficking will not become a pretext for undermining the dignity of migrants and refugees.
Rights Become Self-Referential
- The right to freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, religious freedom and even the right to life are being restricted in the name of other so-called new rights, with the result that the very framework of human rights is losing its vitality and creating space for force and oppression.
- This occurs when each right becomes self-referential, and especially when it becomes disconnected from reality, nature and truth.
- Pride obscures both reality itself and our empathy towards others.
Gaza and Venezuela
- In the Holy Land, despite the truce announced in October, the civilian population continues to endure a serious humanitarian crisis.
- The two-State solution remains the institutional perspective for meeting the legitimate aspirations for both peoples.
- The escalating tensions in the Caribbean Sea and along the American Pacific coast are also a cause for serious concern.
- Peaceful political solutions to the current situation should be sought.
- This pertains in particular to Venezuela, in light of recent developments. In this regard, I renew my appeal to respect the will of the Venezuelan people, and to safeguard the human and civil rights of all.
More States' Regulation of Artificial Intelligence
- There is a danger of returning to the race of producing ever more sophisticated new weapons, also by means of artificial intelligence.
- The latter is a tool that requires appropriate and ethical management, together with regulatory frameworks focused on the protection of freedom and human responsibility.
Picture: Vatican Media, #newsHwzxqutwlx