Pope Francis addresses global concerns in Message for World Day of Peace 2023

“No one can be saved alone.”

CRA draws your attention to the Message of Pope Francis for the celebration of the World Day of Peace (1 January 2023).

In a synodal spirit, CRA invites its Members and associates to share this document with members of their congregations and ministries.

In his Message, Pope Francis urges us to reflect on what we have learned from Covid-19, including “the realisation that we all need one another. That our greatest and most fragile treasure is our shared humanity as brothers and sisters … and that none of us can be saved alone.” (n.3)

That our greatest and most fragile treasure is our shared humanity as brothers and sisters … and that none of us can be saved alone.”

The Pope continues:

“What then is being asked of us? First of all, to let our hearts be changed by our experience of the crisis, to let God, at this time in history, transform our customary criteria for viewing the world around us. We can no longer think exclusively of carving out space for our personal or national interests; instead, we must think in terms of the common good, recognizing that we belong to a greater community, and opening our minds and hearts to universal human fraternity. We cannot continue to focus simply on preserving ourselves; rather, the time has come for all of us to endeavour to heal our society and our planet, to lay the foundations for a more just and peaceful world, and to commit ourselves seriously to pursuing a good that is truly common.” (n. 5)

The Holy Father’s Message refers also to the challenges of the post-Covid era, including the war in Ukraine which has brought immense suffering to people close to the battlefield as well as widespread insecurities to those far away. “Certainly the virus of war is more difficult to overcome than the viruses that compromise our bodies, because it comes, not from outside of us, but from within the human heart… (cf. Mk 7:17-23).

 Continue reading Pope Francis’ Message for World Day of Peace 2023 at the Vatican website, and please share with your networks.