Vatican, January 10 (BNA) In his message for the International Day of Peace, His Holiness Pope Francis expressed the lessons the world has learned three years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic – “It is time to question, learn, grow and allow ourselves to be transformed as individuals and as societies.”
“The greatest lesson we learned from Covid-19 is our realization that we all need each other. The pandemic has led us to a renewed sense of solidarity that has made us more sensitive to the suffering of others and more responsive to their needs,” Pope Francis said in his message for the 56th World Day of Peace. “No one can be saved alone Fight Covid-19 together, and embark together on the paths of peace.”
When tragic events seem to overwhelm our lives, and we feel ourselves plunging into a dark and difficult vortex of injustice and suffering, we are also called to keep our hearts open to hope and trust in God, who makes himself present, who accompanies us with tenderness, sustains us in our toil and, above all, directs our way. .
“Covid-19 has plunged us into a dark night. It has destabilized our daily lives, disrupted our plans and routines, and disrupted the seeming calm of even the most affluent societies. It has caused confusion and suffering and caused the death of scores of our brothers and sisters.
The Pope noted that, amid a whirlwind of unexpected challenges and facing a situation that is confusing even from a scientific point of view, he rallied the world’s healthcare workers to alleviate the immense suffering and seek possible cures. At the same time, the political authorities had to take measures to organize and manage efforts to respond to the emergency.
“In addition to the physical aspects, Covid-19 has led to a general feeling of malaise in many individuals and families; prolonged periods of isolation and various restrictions on freedom have contributed to this malaise, with significant long-term effects,” he said.
“And we cannot overlook the divisions in our social and economic system that the pandemic has exposed, and the contradictions and inequalities it has highlighted. It has threatened the job security of many individuals and exacerbated the ever-increasing problem of loneliness in our societies, especially on the part of the poor and needy. We need but think of millions of workers informal workers in many parts of the world who were left without work and without any support during the lockdown.”
The Pope stressed that individuals and societies rarely achieve progress in circumstances that generate such feelings of despair and bitterness, weakening efforts to ensure peace while provoking social conflict, frustration and various forms of violence. Indeed, the pandemic seems to have disturbed even the most peaceful parts of our world, revealing any number of forms of fragility.
“After three years, it is time to question, learn, grow, and allow ourselves to be transformed as individuals and as societies; this is a defining moment to prepare for the ‘Day of the Lord.
“Today they are asked: What have we learned from the pandemic? What new paths should we take to break free from the shackles of our old habits, to be better prepared, to dare new things? What signs of life and hope can we see? to help us move forward and try to make our world a better place.” better?
“Certainly, having experienced firsthand the fragility of our lives and the world around us, we can say that the greatest lesson we have learned from Covid-19 is the realization that we all need each other. And that our greatest and most fragile treasure is our common humanity as brothers and sisters…and that none of us can save alone.
Thus, we urgently need to cooperate in the search for universal values that can guide the growth and strengthening of this human brotherhood. We have also learned that the trust we place in progress, technology, and the effects of globalization has not only been excessive, but has also turned into an individualistic and idolatrous intoxication, exposing The promise of justice, harmony, and peace peril we so desperately sought.”
The Pope stressed that in our fast-paced world, pervasive problems of inequality, injustice, poverty and marginalization continue to fuel unrest and conflicts, generating violence and even wars.
“The pandemic has accentuated all of this, and yet it has also had its positive effects. These include a belated return to humility, a rethinking of some of the excesses of consumerism, and a renewed sense of solidarity that has made us more sensitive to the suffering of others and more responsive to their needs. We can also reflect on the efforts, which It proved in some cases really heroic, which was done by all those people who worked tirelessly to help everyone get out of the crisis and the turmoil I witnessed as best they could.”
“This experience has made us more aware of the need for all, including peoples and nations, to return the word ‘together’ to a central place. Because together, in fraternity and solidarity, we build peace, ensure justice and get out of the greatest disasters. Indeed, the most effective response to the pandemic came From social groups, public and private institutions, and international organizations setting aside their own interests and joining forces to face challenges, only the peace that comes from brotherly and disinterested love can help us overcome personal, societal, and global crises.
“What, then, is being asked of us? First, to allow our hearts to be changed by our experience of crisis, and to allow God, at this time in history, to change our usual standards of seeing the world around us. We can no longer think exclusively to carve out space for our personal or national interests; instead, We must think in terms of the common good, recognize that we belong to a greater community, and open our minds and hearts to universal human brotherhood.”
The Pope noted, “We cannot continue to focus simply on preserving ourselves; rather, it is time for all of us to seek to heal our society and our planet, to lay the foundations for a more just and peaceful world, and to commit ourselves seriously in the pursuit of a truly common good.”
“In order to do this, and in order to live a better life after the Covid-19 emergency, we cannot ignore one basic fact, which is that the many moral, social, political and economic crises we are going through are all interconnected, and what we see as isolated problems are actually causes and effects of each other.” .
Accordingly, we are called to face the challenges of our world with a spirit of responsibility and compassion. We must reconsider the issue of ensuring public health for all, and we must encourage measures that promote peace and put an end to conflicts and wars that continue to spread poverty and death. We urgently need to join the care of our common home and implement clear and effective measures to combat climate change.”
He stressed the need to fight the virus of inequality, ensure decent food and work for all, and support those who lack even the minimum wage and find themselves in great trouble, and the scandal of starving entire peoples is still an open wound. We need to develop appropriate policies to receive and integrate immigrants and those who are ignored by our societies.”