Pope warns against upsurge in
racism and intolerance
 |
| Pope Francis greets participants at Conference on Xenophobia, Racism and Populist nationalism in the Context of Global Migration.(Vatican Media) |
Pope Francis received the participants in an international
conference on racism in the global context warning against an upsurge of
intolerance and urging politicians to avoid exploiting fear.
By Linda Bordoni
Pope Francis warned that attitudes that many
thought were a thing of the past – such as racism – are on the rise again and
can lead to intolerant and discriminating behavior and policies and he urged
politicians to avoid exploiting fear against those seeking refuge and better
lives in our countries.
He was addressing participants at a just-ended Rome-based
conference "Xenophobia, Racism and Populist Nationalism in the Context of
Global Migration" at the Vatican on Thursday.
Upsurge of racist sentiments
"We are living in times in which feelings that many
thought had passed are taking new life and spreading" Pope Francis said to
the over 200 participants of an international conference on "Xenophobia,
Racism and Populist Nationalism in the Context of World Migrations."
In his message that marked the conclusion of the event
promoted by the Vatican's Dicastery for Integral Human Development, by the
World Council of Churches and by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of
Christian Unity, the Pope reflected on how, in our globalized world, there
appears to be an upsurge of “feelings of suspicion, fear, contempt and
even hatred towards individuals or groups judged for their ethnic, national or
religious identity and, as such – he said - considered not sufficiently worthy
of being fully part of society's life”.
Such sentiments, he warned, “all too often inspire real acts
of intolerance, discrimination or exclusion".
Warning to leaders and policymakers
In his speech Pope Francis also warned political leaders not
to exploit fear saying “Unfortunately, it also happens that in the world of
politics” some yield to the “temptation of exploiting the fears and objective
difficulties of some groups, using illusory promises for short-sighted
electoral interests”.
He called on those responsible for the formation of young
people and on the media to foster a culture of encounter and openness to
others, in mutual respect for diversity, while inviting those “who take
economic advantage of the climate of distrust in foreigners” to search into
their own conscience, “knowing that one day they will have to respond to God
for the choices they made”.
Responsibility to promote respect for the dignity of every
human person
The Pope said the seriousness of these phenomena cannot
leave us indifferent, thus, “we are all called, in our respective roles, to
cultivate and promote respect for the intrinsic dignity of every human person”.
In particular, faced with the spread of new forms of
xenophobia and racism, the Pope said, leaders of all religions have the
important mission of spreading, among their faithful, the ethical principles
and values inscribed by God in the heart of man.
It’s a matter of making and inspiring gestures that
contribute to building societies based on the principle of the sacredness of
human life and respect for the dignity of every person, on charity, on
brotherhood - which – he said - goes far beyond tolerance - and on solidarity.
May the Christian Churches, Francis concluded, become humble
and active witnesses of Christ's love. For Christians, in fact, the moral
responsibilities mentioned above assume an even deeper meaning in the light of
faith.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét