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MESSAGEOFHISHOLINESS

POPEFRANCIS

FORTHECELEBRATIONOFTHE
XLIXWORLDDAYOFPEACE
1JANUARY2016

OvercomeIndifferenceandWinPeace

1.Godisnotindifferent!Godcaresaboutmankind!Goddoesnotabandon
us!AtthebeginningoftheNewYear,Iwouldliketosharenotonlythis
profoundconvictionbutalsomycordialgoodwishesforprosperity,peaceand
thefulfilmentofthehopesofeverymanandeverywoman,everyfamily,
peopleandnationthroughouttheworld,includingallHeadsofStateand
Governmentandallreligiousleaders.Wecontinuetotrustthat2016willsee
usallfirmlyandconfidentlyengaged,ondifferentlevels,inthepursuitof
justiceandpeace.PeaceisbothGodsgiftandahumanachievement.Asa
giftofGod,itisentrustedtoallmenandwomen,whoarecalledtoattainit.
Maintainingourreasonsforhope
2.Sadly,warandterrorism,accompaniedbykidnapping,ethnicorreligious
persecutionandthemisuseofpower,markedthepastyearfromstartto
finish.Inmanypartsoftheworld,thesehavebecamesocommonasto
constitutearealthirdworldwarfoughtpiecemeal.Yetsomeeventsofthe
yearnowendinginspireme,inlookingaheadtothenewyear,toencourage
everyonenottolosehopeinourhumanabilitytoconquerevilandtocombat
resignationandindifference.Theydemonstrateourcapacitytoshowsolidarity
andtoriseaboveselfinterest,apathyandindifferenceinthefaceofcritical
situations.
HereIwouldmentiontheeffortstobringworldleaderstogetheratCOP21in
thesearchfornewwaystoconfrontclimatechangeandtoprotecttheearth,
ourcommonhome.Wecanalsothinkoftwoearlierglobalevents:theAddis
AbabaSummitforfundingsustainabledevelopmentworldwideandthe
adoptionoftheUnitedNations2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment,
aimedatensuringamoredignifiedstandardoflivingforalltheworlds
peoples,especiallythepoor,bythatyear.

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FortheChurch,2015wasaspecialyear,sinceitmarkedthefiftieth
anniversaryoftwodocumentsoftheSecondVaticanCouncilwhicheloquently
expressedhersenseofsolidaritywiththeworld.PopeJohnXXIII,atthe
beginningoftheCouncil,wantedtoopenwidethewindowsoftheChurchand
toimprovehercommunicationwiththeworld.Thetwodocuments,Nostra
AetateandGaudiumetSpes,areemblematicofthenewrelationshipof
dialogue,solidarityandaccompanimentwhichtheChurchsoughttoawaken
withinthehumanfamily.IntheDeclarationNostraAetate,theChurch
expressedheropennesstodialoguewithnonChristianreligions.Inthe
PastoralConstitutionGaudiumetSpes,basedonarecognitionthatthejoys
andhopes,thegriefandanguishofthepeopleofourtime,especiallyofthose
whoarepoororafflicted,arethejoysandhopes,thegriefandanguishofthe
followersofChristaswell,[1]theChurchproposedtoenterintodialogue
withtheentirehumanfamilyabouttheproblemsofourworld,asasignof
solidarity,respectandaffection.[2]
Alongthesesamelines,withthepresentJubileeofMercyIwanttoinvitethe
ChurchtoprayandworksothateveryChristianwillhaveahumbleand
compassionateheart,onecapableofproclaimingandwitnessingtomercy.It
ismyhopethatallofuswilllearntoforgiveandgive,tobecomemoreopen
tothoselivingontheoutermostfringesofsocietyfringeswhichmodern
societyitselfcreates,andtorefusetofallintoahumiliatingindifferenceora
monotonousroutinewhichpreventsusfromdiscoveringwhatisnew!Letus
wardoffdestructivecynicism![3]
Therearemanygoodreasonstobelieveinmankindscapacitytoacttogether
insolidarityand,onthebasisofourinterconnectionandinterdependence,to
demonstrateconcernforthemorevulnerableofourbrothersandsistersand
fortheprotectionofthecommongood.Thisattitudeofmutualresponsibility
isrootedinourfundamentalvocationtofraternityandalifeincommon.
Personaldignityandinterpersonalrelationshipsarewhatconstituteusas
humanbeingswhomGodwilledtocreateinhisownimageandlikeness.As
creaturesendowedwithinalienabledignity,wearerelatedtoallourbrothers
andsisters,forwhomweareresponsibleandwithwhomweactinsolidarity.
Lackingthisrelationship,wewouldbelesshuman.Wesee,then,how
indifferencerepresentsamenacetothehumanfamily.Asweapproachanew
year,Iwouldaskeveryonetotakestockofthisreality,inordertoovercome
indifferenceandtowinpeace.
Kindsofindifference
3.Clearly,indifferenceisnotsomethingneweveryperiodofhistoryhas
knownpeoplewhoclosetheirheartstotheneedsofothers,whoclosetheir

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eyestowhatishappeningaroundthem,whoturnasidetoavoidencountering
otherpeople'sproblems.Butinourday,indifferencehasceasedtobea
purelypersonalmatterandhastakenonbroaderdimensions,producinga
certainglobalizationofindifference.
ThefirstkindofindifferenceinhumansocietyisindifferencetoGod,which
thenleadstoindifferencetoonesneighbourandtotheenvironment.Thisis
oneofthegraveconsequencesofafalsehumanismandpracticalmaterialism
alliedtorelativismandnihilism.Wehavecometotothinkthatwearethe
sourceandcreatorofourselves,ourlivesandsociety.Wefeelselfsufficient,
preparednotonlytofindasubstituteforGodbuttodocompletelywithout
him.Asaconsequence,wefeelthatweowenothingtoanyonebutourselves,
andweclaimonlyrights.[4]Againstthiserroneousunderstandingofthe
person,PopeBenedictXVIobservedthatneithermanhimselfnorhuman
developmentcan,ontheirown,answerthequestionofourultimatemeaning.
[5]PaulVIlikewisestatedthatthereisnotruehumanismbutthatwhichis
opentotheAbsolute,andisconsciousofavocationwhichgiveshumanlife
itsauthenticsignificance.[6]
Indifferencetoourneighbourshowsitselfindifferentways.Somepeopleare
wellinformedtheylistentotheradio,readthenewspapersorwatch
television,buttheydosomechanicallyandwithoutengagement.Theyare
vaguelyawareofthetragediesafflictinghumanity,buttheyhavenosenseof
involvementorcompassion.Theirsistheattitudeofthosewhoknow,but
keeptheirgaze,theirthoughtsandtheiractionsfocusedonthemselves.
Sadly,itmustbesaidthattodaysinformationexplosiondoesnotofitselflead
toanincreasedconcernforotherpeoplesproblems,whichdemands
opennessandasenseofsolidarity.[7]Indeed,theinformationglutcannumb
peoplessensibilitiesandtosomedegreedownplaythegravityofthe
problems.Therearethosewhosimplycontentthemselveswithblamingthe
poorandthepoorcountriesthemselvesfortheirtroublesindulgingin
unwarrantedgeneralizations,theyclaimthatthesolutionisaneducationthat
wouldtranquilizethem,makingthemtameandharmless.Allthisbecomes
evenmoreexasperatingforthemarginalizedinthelightofthewidespread
anddeeplyrootedcorruptionfoundinmanycountriesintheirgovernments,
businessesandinstitutionswhateverthepoliticalideologyoftheir
leaders.[8]
Inothercases,indifferenceshowsitselfinlackofconcernforwhatis
happeningaroundus,especiallyifitdoesnottouchusdirectly.Somepeople
prefernottoaskquestionsorseekanswerstheyleadlivesofcomfort,deaf
tothecryofthosewhosuffer.Almostimperceptibly,wegrowincapableof

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feelingcompassionforothersandfortheirproblemswehavenointerestin
caringforthem,asiftheirtroublesweretheirownresponsibility,andnoneof
ourbusiness.[9]Whenwearehealthyandcomfortable,weforgetabout
others(somethingGodtheFatherneverdoes):weareunconcernedwiththeir
problems,theirsufferingsandtheinjusticestheyendureOurheartgrows
cold.AslongasIamrelativelyhealthyandcomfortable,Idontthinkabout
thoselesswelloff.[10]
Becausewedwellinacommonhome,wecannothelpbutaskourselves
aboutthestateofitshealth,asIsoughttodoinLaudatoSi.Waterandair
pollution,theindiscriminateexploitationofforestsandthedestructionofthe
naturalenvironmentareoftentheresultofmansindifferencetoman,since
everythingisinterrelated.Thentoo,thereisthewaywetreatanimals,which
hasaneffectonthewaywetreatotherpeople[11],andthecaseswhere
peoplefreelydoelsewherewhattheywouldneverdaredoathome.[12]
Intheseandinothersituations,indifferenceleadstoselfabsorptionanda
lackofcommitment.ItthuscontributestotheabsenceofpeacewithGod,
withourneighbourandwiththeenvironment.
Peacethreatenedbyglobalizedindifference
4.IndifferencetowardsGodtranscendsthepurelyprivatesphereofthe
individualandaffectsthepublicandsocialsphere.AsBenedictXVIpointed
out,theglorificationofGodandhumanpeaceoneartharecloselylinked.
[13]Indeed,withoutopennesstothetranscendent,humanbeingseasily
becomepreytorelativismandfinditdifficulttoactjustlyandtoworkfor
peace.[14]DisregardandthedenialofGod,whichleadmantoacknowledge
nonormabovehimselfandhimselfalone,haveproduceduntoldcrueltyand
violence.[15]
Onboththeindividualandcommunitarianlevels,indifferencetoones
neighbour,bornofindifferencetoGod,findsexpressionindisinterestanda
lackofengagement,whichonlyhelptoprolongsituationsofinjusticeand
gravesocialimbalance.Theseinturncanleadtoconflictsor,inanyevent,
generateaclimateofdissatisfactionwhichrisksexplodingsoonerorlaterinto
actsofviolenceandinsecurity.
Indifferenceandlackofcommitmentconstituteagravederelictionoftheduty
wherebyeachofusmustworkinaccordancewithourabilitiesandourrolein
societyforthepromotionofthecommongood,andinparticularforpeace,
whichisoneofmankindsmostpreciousgoods.[16]

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Ontheinstitutionallevel,indifferencetoothersandtotheirdignity,their
fundamentalrightsandtheirfreedom,whenitispartofacultureshapedby
thepursuitofprofitandhedonism,canfosterandevenjustifyactionsand
policieswhichultimatelyrepresentthreatstopeace.Indifferencecaneven
leadtojustifyingdeplorableeconomicpolicieswhichbreedinjustice,division
andviolenceforthesakeofensuringthewellbeingofindividualsornations.
Notinfrequently,economicandpoliticalprojectsaimatsecuringormaintaining
powerandwealth,evenatthecostoftramplingonthebasicrightsandneeds
ofothers.Whenpeoplewitnessthedenialoftheirelementaryrights,suchas
therighttofood,water,healthcareoremployment,theyaretemptedto
obtainthembyforce.[17]
Moreover,indifferencetothenaturalenvironment,bycountenancing
deforestation,pollutionandnaturalcatastropheswhichuprootentire
communitiesfromtheirecosystemandcreateprofoundinsecurity,endsup
creatingnewformsofpovertyandnewsituationsofinjustice,oftenwithdire
consequencesforsecurityandpeace.Howmanywarshavebeenfought,and
howmanywillcontinuetobefought,overashortageofgoodsoroutofan
insatiablethirstfornaturalresources?[18]
Fromindifferencetomercy:theconversionofhearts
5.Oneyearago,inmyMessageforthe2015WorldDayofPeace,withthe
mottoNoLongerSlaves,butBrothersandSisters,Ievokedthefirstbiblical
iconofhumanbrotherhood,thatofCainandAbel(cf.Gen4:116).Imeantto
drawattractattentiontohowfromtheverybeginningthisoriginal
brotherhoodwasbetrayed.CainandAbelwerebrothers.Bothcameforth
fromthesamewomb,theywereequalindignityandcreatedintheimageand
likenessofGodbuttheirrelationshipasbrotherswasdestroyed.Itwasnot
onlythatCaincouldnotstandAbelhekilledhimoutofenvy.[19]Fratricide
wastheformofbetrayal,andCainsrefusaltoacknowledgeAbelashis
brotherbecamethefirstruptureinthefamilyrelationsoffraternity,solidarity
andmutualrespect.
Godthenintervenedtoremindmanofhisresponsibilitytowardshisfellows,
ashehadalsodonewhenAdamandEve,ourfirstparents,rupturedtheir
relationshipwithhim,theirCreator.ThentheLordsaidtoCain:Whereis
Abelyourbrother?Hesaid,IdonotknowamImybrotherskeeper?But
theLordreplied:Whatyouhaveyoudone?Thevoiceofyourbrothersblood
iscryingtomefromtheground(Gen4:910).
Cainsaidhedidnotknowwhathadhappenedtohisbrother,thathewasnot
hisbrotherskeeper.Hedidnotfeelresponsibleforhislife,forhisfate.Hedid

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notfeelinvolved.Hewasindifferenttohisbrother,despitetheircommon
origin.Howsad!Whatasorrytaleofbrothers,offamilies,ofhumanbeings!
Thiswasthefirstdisplayofindifferencebetweenbrothers.God,however,is
notindifferent.Abelsbloodhadimmensevalueinhiseyes,andheaskedCain
togiveanaccountofit.Attheoriginofthehumanrace,Godshowshimself
tobeinvolvedinmansdestiny.Later,whenthechildrenofIsraelwereslaves
inEgypt,GodoncemoreintervenedtotellMoses:Ihaveseentheaffliction
ofmypeoplewhoareinEgypt,andhaveheardtheircrybecauseoftheir
taskmastersIknowtheirsufferings,andIhavecomedowntodeliverthem
outofthehandoftheEgyptians,andtobringthemupoutofthatlandtoa
goodandbroadland,alandflowingwithmilkandhoney(Ex3:78).We
shouldnotetheverbswhichdescribeGodsintervention:hesees,hears,
knows,comesdownanddelivers.Goddoesnotremainindifferent.Heis
attentiveandheacts.
Inthesameway,inJesushisSon,Godhascomedownamongus.Hetook
fleshandshowedhissolidaritywithhumanityinallthingsbutsin.Jesus
identifiedwithus:hebecamethefirstbornamongmanybrethren
(Rom8:29).Hewasnotcontentmerelytoteachthecrowds,buthewas
concernedfortheirwelfare,especiallywhenhesawthemhungry
(cf.Mk6:3444)orwithoutwork(cf.Mt20:3).Hewasconcernednotonlyfor
menandwomen,butalsoforthefishofthesea,thebirdsoftheair,plants
andtrees,allthingsgreatandsmall.Hesawandembracedallofcreation.
Buthedidmorethanjustseehetouchedpeopleslives,hespoketothem,
helpedthemandshowedkindnesstothoseinneed.Notonlythis,buthefelt
strongemotionsandhewept(cf.Jn11:3344).Andheworkedtoputanend
tosuffering,sorrow,miseryanddeath.
JesustaughtustobemercifullikeourheavenlyFather(cf.Lk6:36).Inthe
parableoftheGoodSamaritan(cf.Lk10:2937),hecondemnedthosewho
failtohelpothersinneed,thosewhopassbyontheotherside
(cf.Lk10:3132).Bythisexample,hetaughthislisteners,andhisdisciplesin
particular,tostopandtohelpalleviatethesufferingsofthisworldandthe
painofourbrothersandsisters,usingwhatevermeansareathand,beginning
withourowntime,howeverbusywemaybe.Indifferenceoftenseeks
excuses:observingritualprescriptions,lookingtoallthethingsneedingtobe
done,hidingbehindhostilitiesandprejudiceswhichkeepusapart.
MercyistheheartofGod.Itmustalsobetheheartofthemembersofthe
onegreatfamilyofhischildren:aheartwhichbeatsallthemorestrongly
whereverhumandignityasareflectionofthefaceofGodinhiscreatures
isinplay.Jesustellsusthatloveforothersforeigners,thesick,prisoners,

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thehomeless,evenourenemiesistheyardstickbywhichGodwilljudgeour
actions.Oureternaldestinydependsonthis.Itisnotsurprisingthatthe
ApostlePaultellstheChristiansofRometorejoicewiththosewhorejoiceand
toweepwiththosewhoweep(cf.Rom12:15),orthatheencouragesthe
Corinthianstotakeupcollectionsasasignofsolidaritywiththesuffering
membersoftheChurch(cf.1Cor16:23).AndSaintJohnwrites:Ifanyone
hastheworldsgoodsandseeshisbrotherorsisterinneed,yetrefuseshelp,
howdoesGodsloveabideinhim?(1Jn3:17cf.Jas2:1516).
ThistheniswhyitisabsolutelyessentialfortheChurchandforthecredibility
ofhermessagethatsheherselfliveandtestifytomercy.Herlanguageand
hergesturesmusttransmitmercy,soastotouchtheheartsofallpeopleand
inspirethemoncemoretofindtheroadthatleadstotheFather.The
ChurchsfirsttruthistheloveofChrist.TheChurchmakesherselfaservant
ofthisloveandmediatesittoallpeople:alovethatforgivesandexpresses
itselfinthegiftofoneself.Consequently,wherevertheChurchispresent,the
mercyoftheFathermustbeevident.Inourparishes,communities,
associationsandmovements,inaword,whereverthereareChristians,
everyoneshouldfindanoasisofmercy.[20]
Wetoo,then,arecalledtomakecompassion,love,mercyandsolidarityatrue
wayoflife,aruleofconductinourrelationshipswithoneanother.[21]This
requirestheconversionofourhearts:thegraceofGodhastoturnourhearts
ofstoneintoheartsofflesh(cf.Ezek36:26),opentoothersinauthentic
solidarity.Forsolidarityismuchmorethanafeelingofvaguecompassionor
shallowdistressatthemisfortunesofsomanypeople,bothnearandfar.
[22]Solidarityisafirmandperseveringdeterminationtocommitoneselfto
thecommongoodthatistosaytothegoodofallandofeachindividual,
becauseweareallreallyresponsibleforall,[23]becausecompassionflows
fromfraternity.
Understoodinthisway,solidarityrepresentsthemoralandsocialattitude
whichbestcorrespondstoanawarenessofthescourgesofourownday,and
tothegrowinginterdependence,especiallyinaglobalizedworld,betweenthe
livesofgivenindividualsandcommunitiesandthoseofothermenandwomen
intherestoftheworld.[24]
Buildingacultureofsolidarityandmercytoovercomeindifference
6.Solidarity,asamoralvirtueandsocialattitudebornofpersonalconversion,
callsforcommitmentonthepartofthoseresponsibleforeducationand
formation.

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Ithinkfirstoffamilies,whicharecalledtoaprimaryandvitalmissionof
education.Familiesarethefirstplacewherethevaluesofloveandfraternity,
togethernessandsharing,concernandcareforothersarelivedoutand
handedon.Theyarealsotheprivilegedmilieufortransmittingthefaith,
beginningwiththosefirstsimplegesturesofdevotionwhichmothersteach
theirchildren.[25]
Teachers,whohavethechallengingtaskoftrainingchildrenandyouthin
schoolsorothersettings,shouldbeconsciousthattheirresponsibilityextends
alsotothemoral,spiritualandsocialaspectsoflife.Thevaluesoffreedom,
mutualrespectandsolidaritycanbehandedonfromatenderage.Speaking
toeducators,PopeBenedictXVInotedthat:Everyeducationalsettingcanbe
aplaceofopennesstothetranscendentandtoothersaplaceofdialogue,
cohesivenessandattentivelistening,whereyoungpeoplefeelappreciatedfor
theirpersonalabilitiesandinnerriches,andcanlearntoesteemtheirbrothers
andsisters.Mayyoungpeoplebetaughttosavourthejoywhichcomesfrom
thedailyexerciseofcharityandcompassiontowardsothersandfromtaking
anactivepartinthebuildingofamorehumaneandfraternalsociety.[26]
Communicatorsalsohavearesponsibilityforeducationandformation,
especiallynowadays,whenthemeansofinformationandcommunicationare
sowidespread.Theirdutyisfirstandforemosttoservethetruth,andnot
particularinterests.Forthemedianotonlyinformbutalsoformthemindsof
theiraudiences,andsotheycanmakeasignificantcontributiontothe
educationofyoungpeople.Itisimportantnevertoforgetthattheconnection
betweeneducationandcommunicationisextremelyclose:educationtakes
placethroughcommunication,whichinfluences,forbetterorworse,the
formationoftheperson.[27]
Communicatorsshouldalsobemindfulthatthewayinwhichinformationis
obtainedandmadepublicshouldalwaysbelegallyandmorallyadmissible.
Peace:thefruitofacultureofsolidarity,mercyandcompassion
7.Whileconsciousofthethreatposedbyaglobalizationofindifference,we
shouldalsorecognizethat,inthescenarioIhavejustdescribed,thereare
alsomanypositiveinitiativeswhichtestifytothecompassion,mercyand
solidarityofwhichwearecapable.
HereIwouldoffersomeexamplesofpraiseworthycommitment,which
demonstratehowallofuscanovercomeindifferenceinchoosingnottoclose
oureyestoourneighbour.Theserepresentgoodpracticesonthewaytoa
morehumanesociety.

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Therearemanynongovernmentalandcharitableorganizations,bothwithin
andoutsidetheChurch,whosemembers,amidstepidemics,disastersand
armedconflicts,bravedifficultiesanddangersincaringfortheinjuredand
sick,andinburyingthedead.Iwouldalsomentionthoseindividualsand
associationswhichassistmigrantswhocrossdesertsandseasinsearchofa
betterlife.Theseeffortsarespiritualandcorporalworksofmercyonwhich
wewillbejudgedattheendofourlives.
Ithinkalsoofthejournalistsandphotographerswhoshapepublicopinionon
difficultsituationswhichtroubleourconsciences,andallthosedevotedtothe
defenceofhumanrights,especiallytherightsofethnicandreligious
minorities,indigenouspeoples,womenandchildren,andthemostvulnerable
ofourbrothersandsisters.Amongthemarealsomanypriestsand
missionarieswho,asgoodpastors,remainatthesideoftheirflockand
supportthem,heedlessofdangerandhardship,especiallyduringarmed
conflicts.
Howmanyfamilies,amidoccupationalandsocialdifficulties,makegreat
sacrificestoprovidetheirchildrenwithacounterculturaleducationinthe
valuesofsolidarity,compassionandfraternity!Howmanyfamiliesopentheir
heartsandhomestothoseinneed,suchasrefugeesandmigrants!Iwishto
thankinaparticularwayallthoseindividuals,families,parishes,religious
communities,monasteriesandshrineswhoreadilyrespondedtomyappealto
welcomearefugeefamily.[28]
Finally,Iwouldmentionthoseyoungpeoplewhojoininundertakingworksof
solidarity,andallthosewhogenerouslyhelptheirneighboursinneedintheir
citiesandcountriesandelsewhereintheworld.Ithankandencourage
everyoneengagedinsuchefforts,whichoftenpassunobserved.Theirhunger
andthirstforjusticewillbesatisfied,theirmercywillleadthemtofindmercy
and,aspeacemakers,theywillbecalledchildrenofGod(cf.Mt5:69).
PeaceinthesignoftheJubileeofMercy
8.InthespiritoftheJubileeofMercy,allofusarecalledtorealizehow
indifferencecanmanifestitselfinourlivesandtoworkconcretelytoimprove
theworldaroundus,beginningwithourfamilies,neighboursandplacesof
employment.
Civilsocietyislikewisecalledtomakespecificandcourageousgesturesof
concernfortheirmostvulnerablemembers,suchasprisoners,migrants,the
unemployedandtheinfirm.

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Withregardtoprisoners,itwouldappearthatinmanycasespractical
measuresareurgentlyneededtoimprovetheirlivingconditions,withparticular
concernforthosedetainedwhileawaitingtrial.[29]Itmustbekeptinmind
thatpenalsanctionshavetheaimofrehabilitation,whilenationallawsshould
considerthepossibilityofotherestablishingpenaltiesthanincarceration.In
thiscontext,Iwouldlikeoncemoretoappealtogovernmentalauthoritiesto
abolishthedeathpenaltywhereitisstillinforce,andtoconsiderthe
possibilityofanamnesty.
Withregardtomigrants,Iwouldaskthatlegislationonmigrationbereviewed,
so,whilerespectingreciprocalrightsandresponsibilities,itcanreflecta
readinesstowelcomemigrantsandtofacilitatetheirintegration.Special
concernshouldbepaidtotheconditionsforlegalresidency,sincehavingto
liveclandestinelycanleadtocriminalbehaviour.
InthisJubileeYear,Iwouldalsoappealtonationalleadersforconcrete
gesturesinfavourofourbrothersandsisterswhosufferfromthelack
oflabour,landandlodging.Iamthinkingofthecreationofdignifiedjobsto
combatthesocialplagueofunemployment,whichaffectsmanyfamiliesand
youngpeople,withgraveeffectsforsocietyasawhole.Unemploymenttakes
aheavytollonpeoplessenseofdignityandhope,andcanonlybepartially
compensatedforbywelfarebenefits,howevernecessarythesemaybe,
providedtotheunemployedandtheirfamilies.Specialattentionneedstobe
giventowomenwhounfortunatelystillencounterdiscriminationinthe
workplaceandtosomecategoriesofworkerswhoseconditionsare
precariousordangerous,andwhosepayisnotcommensuratetothe
importanceoftheirsocialmission.
Finally,Iexpressmyhopethateffectivestepswillbetakentoimprovethe
livingconditionsofthesickbyensuringthatallhaveaccesstomedical
treatmentandpharmaceuticalsessentialforlife,aswellasthepossibilityof
homecare.
Lookingbeyondtheirownborders,nationalleadersarealsocalledtorenew
theirrelationswithotherpeoplesandtoenabletheirrealparticipationand
inclusioninthelifeoftheinternationalcommunity,inordertoensurefraternity
withinthefamilyofnationsaswell.
Withthisinmind,Iwouldliketomakeathreefoldappealtotheleadersof
nations:torefrainfromdrawingotherpeoplesintoconflictsorwarswhich
destroynotonlytheirmaterial,culturalandsociallegacy,butalsoandinthe
longtermtheirmoralandspiritualintegritytoforgiveormanageina
sustainablewaytheinternationaldebtofthepoorernationsandtoadopt

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policiesofcooperationwhich,insteadofbowingbeforethedictatorshipof
certainideologies,willrespectthevaluesoflocalpopulationsand,inanycase,
notprovedetrimentaltothefundamentalandinalienablerighttolifeofthe
unborn.
Ientrustthesereflections,togetherwithmybestwishesfortheNewYear,to
theintercessionoftheBlessedVirginMary,ourMother,whocaresforthe
needsofourhumanfamily,thatshemayobtainfromherSonJesus,the
PrinceofPeace,thegrantingofourprayersandtheblessingofourdaily
effortsforafraternalandunitedworld.
FromtheVatican,8December2015
SolemnityoftheImmaculateConceptionoftheBlessedVirginMary
OpeningoftheExtraordinaryJubileeofMercy

http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/peace/documents/papafrancesco_20151208_messaggioxlixgiornatamondialepace2016.html

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