Google – AFP, 12 December 2013
 |
Pope
Francis greets worshippers at St Peter's Square at the Vatican,
on December 11,
2013 (AFP, Vincenzo Pinto)
|
Vatican
City — Pope Francis on Thursday urged governments around the world to show more
solidarity and strive for equality following a period of economic crisis, a day
after being declared "Person of the Year" by Time magazine.
"The
succession of economic crises should lead to a timely rethinking of our models
of economic development and to a change in lifestyles," Francis said in
his message for New Year's Day, which is World Peace Day.
"Effective
policies are needed to promote the principle of fraternity, securing for
people... access to capital, services, educational resources, healthcare and
technology," he said in a written text which will be read out in Catholic
churches on January 1.
Governments
have a "duty of solidarity" towards poorer nations and a "duty
of social justice" towards their citizens, while individuals should also
practice fraternity by "sharing their wealth", he said.
He also
said disarmament accords were not "sufficient to protect humanity from the
risk of armed conflict".
"A
conversion of hearts is needed which would permit everyone to recognise in the
other a brother or sister," he said.
Francis
called for "a culture of solidarity" and said the biblical story of
Cain and Abel showed "the difficult task to which all men and women are
called, to live as one, taking care of each other."
"Rampant
individualism, egocentrism and materialistic consumerism, weaken social bonds,
fuelling that 'throw away' mentality which leads to a contempt for, and the
abandonment of, the weakest," he said.
He also
reiterated his critique of financial speculators saying they were often
"both predatory and harmful for entire economic and social systems,
exposing millions of men and women to poverty".
Cardinal
Peter Turkson, head of the Vatican's pontifical council for justice and peace,
explained the pope's message at a press conference and drew an analogy with
anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.
"By
his example and leadership, Nelson Mandela facilitated the conversion of hearts
away from fratricide," said Turkson, who represented the Vatican at this
week's memorial service for Mandela in Soweto.
"Conversion
of minds and hearts is what Pope Francis is pursuing daily," he said.
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