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[webfact]

See differences as asset, not danger, pope says in Christmas message

By Philip Pullella

 

Pope Francis waves as he arrives to deliver the "Urbi et Orbi" message from the main balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, December 25, 2018. REUTERS/Max Rossi

 

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis, in his Christmas message to the world, urged people on Tuesday to see differences as a source of richness instead of danger and called for reconciliation in places torn apart by conflict.

 

Francis delivered the traditional papal "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message to tens of thousands of people in a sunny St. Peter's Square from the same basilica balcony where he first appeared as pontiff shortly after his election on March 13, 2013.

 

Security has been tight around the Vatican for the Christmas season, with military jeeps stationed at key access routes and tourists undergoing metal detector and bag searches.

 

Last week police in southern Italy arrested a Somali man suspected of having been a member of Islamic State and who had threatened to bomb churches in Italy, including St. Peter's.

 

In his address, in what appeared to be a reference to the shrill political climate in a number of countries, Francis called for "fraternity among people with different ideas, yet capable of respecting and listening to one another".

 

Francis, the first pope from Latin America, alluded to polarisation over migration, saying God wanted "love, acceptance, respect for this poor humanity of ours, which we all share in a great variety of races, languages, and cultures".

 

"Our differences, then, are not a detriment or a danger; they are a source of richness," he said.

 

Francis, 82, called for the resumption of dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians to "undertake a journey of peace that can put an end to a conflict that for over 70 years has lacerated the land chosen by the Lord to show his face of love".

 

He urged the international community to work for a political solution in Syria and said he hoped a truce brokered in Yemen's civil war could bring relief to a population exhausted by violence and famine.

 

The Argentinian-born pope also called for social harmony in Nicaragua and Venezuela, both racked by internal political conflicts.

 

The millions of refugees or displaced people in Africa who are in need of humanitarian assistance and food security should not be forgotten, he said.

 

In Ukraine, he called for "a peace respectful of the rights of every nation". Ukraine's relations with Russia have been locked in a downwards spiral since Moscow annexed Crimea 2014 and backed pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

 

(Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Gareth Jones)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-12-26

[klauskunkel]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

this poor humanity of ours, which we all share in

some share more equally in this poor humanity than others...

[Sir Swagman]

He also said that people should be happy with less, or words to that effect. Of course the wealth of the Catholic Church would not come under any such instruction. Where would hypocrisy be without religion? 

[KKr]

earlier points I do not disagree with.
However, taking a political stance is a good step for using his influence.

[Krataiboy]

4 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

some share more equally in this poor humanity than others...

Though data is scarce, Vatican City's revenue in 2011 was estimated at $308m in 2011. With a population of 800 people, its GDP per capita is $365,796 - making it the richest state on the planet by this measure.

https://csglobe.com/how-rich-is-the-vatican/

[evadgib]

Related topical link:

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has ordered a review into the plight of persecuted Christians around the world and how much help they get from the UK.

The review, led by the Bishop of Truro, will look at government efforts to help some of the 215 million Christians who faced discrimination and violence last year, according to the Foreign Office.

Officials say violence against Christians is rising dramatically, with an average of 250 killed every month.

Mr Hunt said the UK "must do more."

"Britain has long championed international religious freedom," he said.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-46682411

 

[malagateddy]

Related topical link:

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has ordered a review into the plight of persecuted Christians around the world and how much help they get from the UK.

The review, led by the Bishop of Truro, will look at government efforts to help some of the 215 million Christians who faced discrimination and violence last year, according to the Foreign Office.

Officials say violence against Christians is rising dramatically, with an average of 250 killed every month.

Mr Hunt said the UK "must do more."

"Britain has long championed international religious freedom," he said.

 
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-46682411
 

Immediately stop foreign aid..especially to likes of pakistan..egypt etc

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Krataiboy]

Britain, a majority Christian country, is more far more generous with the welcome mat to Muslims than Christians fleeing extremist genocide in Islamic countries. This is evident from shocking refugee settlement figures squeezed out of a reluctant UK Government the Barnabas Fund, an inter-denominational charity working on behalf of Christians facing discrimination or persecution.

 

It took the threat of a high court action before the Home Office would even come clean with the following shameful facts:

 

In the first three months of this year, the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) recommended 1,358 fleeing Syrians for resettlement in the UK, of which only four were Christians. Eventually, 1,112 refugees were resettled - all of them Muslim, with no Christians having their applications to stay approved.

 

Last year's record was equally dismal. Of the 7,060 Syrian refugees recommended for settlement, only 25 were Christians (0.35%). The Home Office accepted 11 – meaning that Christians made up only 0.23% of Syrian refugees resettled in the UK last year.

https://barnabasfund.org/en/news/no-christians-at-all-among-1112-syrian-refugees-resettled-in-the-uk-this-year

 

Belatedly, the government - led by a Prime Minister who is a vicar's daughter - is reviewing what more it can do to help the estimated 215 million Christians facing violence and discrimination worldwide.

 

Judging by the evidence so far, the answer is: a heck of a lot more.

Edited December 27, 2018 by Krataiboy