Speaking to international business leaders at a Fortune-Time Global Forum, Pope Francis said: “Our world today is marked by great unrest. Inequality between peoples continues to rise, and many communities are impacted directly by war and poverty, or the migration and displacement which flow from them… They want to make their rightful contribution to their local communities and broader society, and to benefit from the resources and development too often reserved for the few.
“While this may create conflict and lay bare the many sorrows of our world, it also makes us realise that we are living in a moment of hope. For when we recognise the evil in our midst, we can seek healing by applying the remedy. This fundamental renewal does not have to do simply with market economics, figures to be balanced, the development of raw materials and improvements made to infrastructures. No, what we are speaking about is the common good of humanity, of the right of each person to share in the resources of this world and to have the same opportunities to realise his or her potential, a potential that is ultimately based on the dignity of the children of God, created in his image and likeness.”
Patriarch on areas of agreement
In an address to Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople said:
“With Pope Francis we share the same concerns, the same goals, and the same attitudes with regard to responding to the modern social and humanitarian crisis. Both of us underline the social content of freedom, love and solidarity; we both emphasise relationships and not isolation, being and not having, as well as fellowship and not greed. We resist any idealisation of individualism and consumerism. We strive for a fairer world, for respect of human rights, and especially for the right of religious freedom.
“The problems of refugees disturb us... Our encounter with Pope Francis in Assisi solidified our shared conviction that our Churches must intensify their efforts against fanaticism, injustice and violence, but also toward the establishment of a culture of solidarity.”
Protest by Nicaraguan bishops
Condemning police violence against farmers protesting the confiscation of their property, the bishops of Nicaragua said: “As Church and as Episcopal Conference we are close to the people and we are coherent in this. We are not close to the powerful, but close to our people.
“This is not normal. People must be brave, we must always try to defend the rights and we are with them... We asked (President Ortega) on several occasions: dialogue, free elections, but he never listened to us. Now we ask him calmly, not to suppress the people.”
Bill undermines pro-life messages
In a letter to President François Hollande criticising his support of a Bill targeting pro-life websites displaying a message to dissuade women from having an abortion, Archbishop Georges Pontier of Marseille, president of the Bishops’ Conference of France, wrote: “This Bill calls into question the foundations of our freedoms and most particularly the freedom of expression. This seems to me to be a very serious attack on the principles of democracy.”
Solidarity with immigrants in US
Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez, vice president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops said: “Many families are wondering how changes to immigration policy might impact them. The Church is with them, offers prayers on their behalf, and is monitoring developments to be an advocate on their behalf.”
(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)