In his first message of the year, Pope Francis did not back away from one of the greatest challenges facing the world. Speaking to the faithful who had gathered in St. Peter’s Square he spoke of peace, and the need within our world to “overcome indifference and win peace”.
His statement was not a broad ‘somebody has to do something’ kind of statement he, as Pope Francis does so often, brought it down to the you and me level. He said, “The enemy of peace is not merely war but also indifference that makes one think only of oneself and creates barriers, suspicions, fears and closure.” He went on to say that peace needs to be cultivated and won beginning with the “spiritual struggle that starts within our hearts.”
Pope Francis brings to the Vatican a heart for the poor and dispossessed. In a recent sermon he spoke against the “arrogance of the powerful that demeans the weak, relegating them to the most squalid outskirts of our world.” Strong words. And he followed them by speaking to the refugee crisis that face many around our globe when he said, “We are witnessing hordes of men, women and children fleeing war, hunger and persecution, ready to risk their lives simply to encounter respect for their fundamental rights.”
According to the International Organization for Migration more that one million refugees entered Europe in the year 2015 travelling by sea and land. The Pope referred to this as a “torrent of misery”.
Most of all I loved when he spoke of the need to be reborn in saying, “let ourselves be reborn, to overcome the indifference which blocks solidarity and to leave behind the false neutrality which prevents sharing.” False neutrality – what a powerful phrase. All I can say to that is “Go, Pope Francis, go – we need to hear your strong and powerful words as we begin this New Year.”
I am not giving up on humanity yet, I believe that the majority of the population do want to overcome indifference if it could lead to peace. Who would not wish for their children and grandchildren to grow in peace? In 2016, may it be so.
