杏MAP导航

By Vatican News staff writer

杏MAP导航 Francis, on Friday, addressed the new Ambassadors of Singapore, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Algeria, Sri Lanka, Barbados, Sweden, Finland and Nepal, as they presented their credential letters to the Holy Father.

鈥淚 am pleased to welcome you as you present the Letters accrediting you as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassadors of your countries to the Holy See,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航 to the diplomats.

The 杏MAP导航 expressed gratitude for their presence in spite of the challenges to travel caused by the pandemic, and asked them to convey his 鈥渟entiments of gratitude and esteem鈥� to the Heads of States that they represent.

Need for a 鈥渃ulture of care鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis turned his thoughts toward the numerous challenges caused as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has aggravated the social and economic crisis around the world.

鈥淥n a personal level, many have lost loved ones and their means of livelihood," the 杏MAP导航 noted. "Families, in particular, are facing grave economic difficulties and often lack adequate social protection.鈥�

At the same time, he continued, 鈥渢he pandemic has made us more conscious of our interdependence as members of the one human family and our need to be attentive to the poor and the vulnerable in our midst.鈥�

The Holy Father, therefore, called on societies to take concrete, courageous steps to develop a 鈥渃ulture of care鈥� that can inspire 鈥渘ew relationships and structures of cooperation in the service of solidarity, respect for human dignity, mutual assistance and social justice鈥� as we seek to emerge from the present crisis.

Challenges for the international community

The 杏MAP导航 went on to lament the growing difficulties experienced by the international community 鈥渋n seeking common and shared solutions to the problems of our world.鈥�

In this regard, he pointed to pressing global issues, including migration and climate change, as well as the humanitarian crises that often trail them. He also drew attention to the economic debt that burden many countries and the 鈥渆cological debt鈥� that we owe to nature, as well as to peoples affected by human-induced ecological degradation and loss of biodiversity.

He stressed that these issues are 鈥渘ot simply political or economic,鈥� but are rather questions of justice that can no longer be ignored or deferred. In fact, he insisted, 鈥渢hey entail a moral obligation towards future generations, for the seriousness with which we respond to them will shape the world we leave to our children.鈥�

The Church at work for a better society

Addressing the diplomats, the Holy Father underlined the important role of their work in the development of 鈥渁 global consensus capable of responding to these ethical challenges facing our human family.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 also reiterated the Holy See鈥檚 support, through its diplomatic representations and activity within the international community, for efforts to build 鈥渁 world in which the human person is at the centre, finance is at the service of an integral development, and the earth, our common home, is protected and cared for.鈥�

Likewise, 鈥渢hrough her works of education, charity and healthcare worldwide, the Church seeks to advance the integral development of individuals and peoples, and in this way contribute to the cause of peace,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 noted.

Invitation to prayers for the Holy Land

Recalling the escalation of violence and hostilities going on in the Holy Land in recent days, 杏MAP导航 Francis renewed his call for all parties to pursue "the paths of dialogue and peace.鈥�

He also invited all the pastors and the faithful of the Catholic Church to unite themselves spiritually in prayer with the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land as they gather on Saturday to celebrate the Vigil of Pentecost in Saint Stephen鈥檚 Church in Jerusalem and to 鈥渋mplore the gift of peace.鈥�

鈥淢ay every community pray to the Holy Spirit that Israelis and Palestinians may find the path of dialogue and forgiveness, be patient builders of peace and justice, and be open, step by step, to a common hope, to coexistence among brothers and sisters,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis urged.