Pope Francis defended that we must “remove from religion the temptation to become an instrument to feed nationalism, ethnicism and populism,” which aggravate wars.
He made this forceful statement in a message addressed to the participants in the International Meeting of Prayer for Peace organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio, which took place in Paris from September 22 to 24.
Receive the main news from ACI Prensa by WhatsApp and Telegram
It is increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channels today:
Pope Francis recalled that 38 years have passed since the first prayer meeting for Peace was held in 1986 and warned that currently “we are immersed in a change of era whose perspectives we still do not know.”
That first event took place in Assisi (Italy), and was attended by Saint John Paul II. For Pope Francis, the “spirit of Assisi” is a blessing for the world, “for this world of ours still torn by too many wars, by too much violence.”
In this sense, he stressed that this spirit “must blow even stronger in the sails of dialogue and friendship between peoples.”
He also stressed the need to pray for peace and warned that “the risk of numerous conflicts, instead of ceasing, expanding dangerously, is more than real.”
“I make your cry and that of so many affected by the war my own, and I direct it to those responsible for politics: Stop the war! We are already destroying the world! Let’s stop while we still have time! ”He exclaimed.
He then lamented that religions have been used to fuel conflicts and wars, a danger that according to the Pontiff “continues to lurk today.”
“Woe to those who try to drag God into taking part in wars!” he then exclaimed, while specifying that “the urgent task of religions is to foster visions of peace.”
Likewise, he pointed out that “dialogue between people of different religions is not only a matter of diplomacy, courtesy or tolerance,” but that it is necessary to meet, “weave fraternal ties and let ourselves be guided by the divine inspiration that inhabits each faith, to imagine together peace among all peoples.”
“In a world in danger of being torn apart by conflicts and wars, the work of believers is precious in showing visions of peace and fostering brotherhood and peace among peoples around the world,” he added.
Furthermore, he recalled that God “has also placed in our hands his dream for the world: brotherhood among all peoples” and “has entrusted us all with the responsibility of exhorting and encouraging peoples to brotherhood and peace.”
Almudena Martínez-Bordiú
I am a graduate in Journalism and Advertising from the CEU San Pablo University in Madrid. Specialized in religious information in Spain since 2015. I have been a senior correspondent for ACI Prensa and EWTN Noticias in the Vatican for two years and I am currently a European correspondent based in Spain.