Intervention in Syria and The Threat of World War
Angelus appeal for peace (full text)
Angelus appeal for peace (full text)
Print
2013-09-01 Vatican Radio
(Vatican
Radio) Pope Francis has called for a day of fasting and prayer for peace in
Syria, in the entire Mideast region, and throughout the whole world to be held
this coming Saturday, September 7th, 2013. The Pope made the announcement
during the course of remarks ahead of the traditional Angelus prayer this
Sunday. Below, please find the full text of the Holy Father's Angelus appeal.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Hello! Today, dear brothers and sisters, I wish to make add my
voice to the cry which rises up with increasing anguish from every part of the
world, from every people, from the heart of each person, from the one great
family which is humanity: it is the cry for peace! It is a cry which declares
with force: we want a peaceful world, we want to be men and women of peace, and we
want in our society, torn apart by divisions and conflict, that peace break
out! War never again! Never again war! Peace is a precious gift, which must be
promoted and protected.
There are so many conflicts in this world which cause me great suffering and worry, but in these days my heart is deeply wounded in particular by what is happening in Syria and anguished by the dramatic developments which are looming. I appeal strongly for peace, an appeal which arises from the deep within me. How much suffering, how much devastation, how much pain has the use of arms carried in its wake in that martyred country, especially among civilians and the unarmed! I think of many children will not see the light of the future! With utmost firmness I condemn the use of chemical weapons: I tell you that those terrible images from recent days are burned into my mind and heart. There is a judgment of God and of history upon our actions which are inescapable! Never has the use of violence brought peace in its wake. War begets war, violence begets violence.
There are so many conflicts in this world which cause me great suffering and worry, but in these days my heart is deeply wounded in particular by what is happening in Syria and anguished by the dramatic developments which are looming. I appeal strongly for peace, an appeal which arises from the deep within me. How much suffering, how much devastation, how much pain has the use of arms carried in its wake in that martyred country, especially among civilians and the unarmed! I think of many children will not see the light of the future! With utmost firmness I condemn the use of chemical weapons: I tell you that those terrible images from recent days are burned into my mind and heart. There is a judgment of God and of history upon our actions which are inescapable! Never has the use of violence brought peace in its wake. War begets war, violence begets violence.
With all my strength, I ask each party in this conflict to
listen to the voice of their own conscience, not to close themselves in solely
on their own interests, but rather to look at each other as brothers and
decisively and courageously to follow the path of encounter and negotiation,
and so overcome blind conflict. With similar vigour I exhort the international
community to make every effort to promote clear proposals for peace in that
country without further delay, a peace based on dialogue and negotiation, for
the good of the entire Syrian people. May no effort be spared in guaranteeing
humanitarian assistance to those wounded by this terrible conflict, in
particular those forced to flee and the many refugees in nearby countries. May
humanitarian workers, charged with the task of alleviating the sufferings of
these people, be granted access so as to provide the necessary aid.
What can we do to make peace in the world? As Pope John said, it
pertains to each individual to establish new relationships in human society
under the mastery and guidance of justice and love (cf. John XXIII, Pacem in
Terris, [11 April 1963]: AAS 55, [1963], 301-302). All men and women of good
will are bound by the task of pursuing peace. I make a forceful and urgent call
to the entire Catholic Church, and also to every Christian of other
confessions, as well as to followers of every religion and to those brothers
and sisters who do not believe: peace is a good which overcomes every barrier,
because it belongs to all of humanity!
I repeat forcefully: it is neither a culture of confrontation nor a culture of conflict which builds harmony within and between peoples, but rather a culture of encounter and a culture of dialogue; this is the only way to peace. May the plea for peace rise up and touch the heart of everyone so that they may lay down their weapons and be let themselves be led by the desire for peace.
To this end, brothers and sisters, I have decided to proclaim for the whole Church on 7 September next, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace, a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world, and I also invite each person, including our fellow Christians, followers of other religions and all men of good will, to participate, in whatever way they can, in this initiative. On 7 September, in Saint Peter’s Square, here, from 19:00 until 24:00, we will gather in prayer and in a spirit of penance, invoking God’s great gift of peace upon the beloved nation of Syria and upon each situation of conflict and violence around the world. Humanity needs to see these gestures of peace and to hear words of hope and peace! I ask all the local churches, in addition to fasting, that they gather to pray for this intention.
Let us ask Mary to help us to respond to violence, to conflict and to war, with the power of dialogue, reconciliation and love. She is our mother: may she help us to find peace; all of us are her children! Help us, Mary, to overcome this most difficult moment and to dedicate ourselves each day to building in every situation an authentic culture of encounter and peace. Mat, Queen of Peace, pray for us!
Syrian bishop warns intervention could spark 'world war' - August 26, 2013
 |
 |
| Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican August 25, 2013. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito |
 |  |
VATICAN CITY: A Syrian Chaldean Catholic bishop on Monday warned that an armed intervention in Syria could unleash a "world war", while the Vatican's official newspaper called for more "prudence" from Western powers.
"If there is an armed intervention, that would mean, I believe, a world war. That risk has returned," Monsignor Antoine Audo of Aleppo told Vatican radio.
"We hope that the pope's call for real dialogue between the warring parties to find a solution can be a first step to stop the fighting," he said.
Audo is also the head of the Syrian arm of the international Catholic charity Caritas and has repeatedly warned about the human cost of the war.
The Vatican daily, L'Osservatore Romano, meanwhile criticised Western powers in an editorial.
"The drumbeat of an armed intervention by Western powers is becoming ever more insistent and ever less restrained by prudence," it said.
"Several representatives of these countries say they are convinced that the accusation that the Syrian army used chemical weapons is founded -- a question which the United Nations is investigating," he said.
Pope Francis on Sunday called for the international community to help find a solution to the civil war.
"I launch an appeal to the international community to be more sensitive to this tragic situation and to commit itself to the maximum to help the dear Syrian nation find a solution to a war which spreads destruction and death," he said.
"If there is an armed intervention, that would mean, I believe, a world war. That risk has returned," Monsignor Antoine Audo of Aleppo told Vatican radio.
"We hope that the pope's call for real dialogue between the warring parties to find a solution can be a first step to stop the fighting," he said.
Audo is also the head of the Syrian arm of the international Catholic charity Caritas and has repeatedly warned about the human cost of the war.
The Vatican daily, L'Osservatore Romano, meanwhile criticised Western powers in an editorial.
"The drumbeat of an armed intervention by Western powers is becoming ever more insistent and ever less restrained by prudence," it said.
"Several representatives of these countries say they are convinced that the accusation that the Syrian army used chemical weapons is founded -- a question which the United Nations is investigating," he said.
Pope Francis on Sunday called for the international community to help find a solution to the civil war.
"I launch an appeal to the international community to be more sensitive to this tragic situation and to commit itself to the maximum to help the dear Syrian nation find a solution to a war which spreads destruction and death," he said.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Aug-26/228736-syrian-bishop-warns-intervention-could-spark-world-war.ashx#ixzz2dkgiKhxl
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
No comments:
Post a Comment