Pope links fraternity and peace in 2014 theme

Last updated on: July 31, 2013 at 3:51 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope links fraternity and peace in 2014 theme 2013-07-31T15:51:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Jul 31, 2013 / 09:51 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis’ message for the Jan. 1, 2014 World Day of Peace is that living a life of fraternity can lead to peace for a world struggling with many tragedies.

“In the face of the many tragedies that afflict the family of nations – poverty, hunger, underdevelopment, conflicts, migrations, pollution, inequalities, injustice, organized crime, fundamentalisms – fraternity is the foundation and the pathway to peace,” says a July 31 Vatican announcement on the theme for the 47th World Day of Peace.

The choice of “Fraternity, the foundation and pathway to peace” as the theme for his first Day of Peace echoes the message of solidarity that Pope Francis has already made a hallmark of his papacy.

“Fraternity,” says the communiqué, “is a dowry that every man and every woman brings with himself or herself as a human being, as a child of the one Father.”

The Vatican statement also underscores that in modern society the predominant “culture of personal well-being” leads to “a loss of the sense of responsibility and fraternal relationship.”

“Others, rather than being ‘like us,’ appear more as antagonists or enemies and are often treated as objects. Not uncommonly, the poor and needy are regarded as a ‘burden,’ a hindrance to development. At most, they are considered as recipients of aid or compassionate assistance,” it says.

The announcement also underscores how living a life based in fraternity is “a gift and task that comes from God the Father.”

It “urges us to be in solidarity against inequality and poverty that undermine the social fabric, to take care of every person, especially the weakest and most defenseless, to love him or her as oneself, with the very heart of Jesus Christ.”

“In a world that is constantly growing more interdependent,” the statement notes, “the good of fraternity is one that we cannot do without.”

“It serves to defeat the spread of the globalization of indifference to which Pope Francis has frequently referred.”

Instead, the communiqué emphasizes that the Holy Father is calling for a “globalization of fraternity” which leaves its mark on “every aspect of life, including the economy, finance, civil society, politics, research, development, public and cultural institutions.”

Vatican

Previous Post

July 31, 2013

Pope focuses on centrality of Christ and Church for Jesuits

Next Post

July 31, 2013 Pope Francis thinking about declaring Pius XII a saint

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which New Testament book has the most Old Testament quotes?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Matthew Romans Hebrews Revelation