Either we are brothers or everything
collapses, Pope Francis said in a video message on the second
International Day of Human Fraternity Friday.
The pope exhorted people to embrace human fraternity to stop
endless destruction, Vatican News reported.
The Argentine pontiff urged all people to tread the difficult
path of fraternity in order to overcome the prejudices and
conflicts that divide humanity.
The International Day of Human Fraternity was set up by the UN
General Assembly to commemorate the signing of the Document on
Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together by Pope
Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, in Abu
Dhabi on 4 February 2019.
Pope Francis sent a video message on Friday as the world marked
the second Day dedicated to this historic event. Fraternity,
said the Pope, can act as a "bulwark against hatred, violence,
and injustice".
He thanked the many people and organizations—especially Sheikh
Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and the Higher
Committee for Human Fraternity—for the many initiatives which
seek to implement the Document's values.
Pope Francis said all people, regardless of religion or creed,
are called to promote a "culture of peace" that welcomes all,
while encouraging development and solidarity.
Throughout his message, the Pope repeated the affirmation that
"we all live under the same heaven" and that we are all God's
children, no matter the colour of our skin or social class.
He said every person has a role to play in making the world a
better place, by helping others raise "their eyes and prayers to
heaven."
As the world faces the Covid-19 pandemic, he said, we must
remember that we are not saved alone. Rather, we must extend our
hands "to celebrate our unity in diversity—unity, not
uniformity," said the Pope.
"The time of fraternity has arrived," he added, so we should
strive to "live in solidarity with one another."
He also lamented the many little wars—a "third world war being
fought piecemeal"—that destroy lives, force children to endure
hunger, and suppress educational opportunities.
We must not be indifferent to each other's sufferings, said the
Pope. The common heritage of Christians, Muslims, and Jews in
God's promise to Abraham joins us and helps us live "a
fraternity as vast and bright as the stars of heaven."
Pope Francis again greeted his "dear brother", the Grand Imam,
and acknowledged that the path of fraternity is "long and
challenging" yet it is "the anchor of salvation for humanity."
"Let us counter the many threatening signs, times of darkness
and mindsets of conflict with the sign of fraternity that, in
accepting others and respecting their identity, invites them to
a shared journey," he said.
Every person should be respected in their own identity and
personality, added the Pope.
And he concluded by thanking everyone who believes that the
world can live in harmony, since we are all "creatures of God:
brothers and sisters."
"I encourage everyone to be committed to the cause of peace and
to respond concretely to the problems and needs of the least,
the poor and the defenseless," said Pope Francis. "Our resolve
is to walk side by side, 'brothers and sisters all', in order to
be effective artisans of peace and justice, in the harmony of
differences and with respect for the identity of each."
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