For Immediate Release From Vatican News!
First Sunday of Advent
Gospel of the Day (Mark 13,33-37)
Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch!'"
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COP28: Religious leaders appeal for joint action to heal the planet
Pope Francis and other religious leaders sign a joint document in which they call on politicians, governments, and businesses to accelerate the transition of energy to inclusively to heal our planet.
By Benedetta Capelli
The declaration signed by various religious leaders during COP28 has commitment and hope as its underlying foundation. Having also been signed by Pope Francis, the Document highlights unity, shared responsibility and fraternity as some of the key elements necessary to achieve the goal of lowering the earth's temperature by 1.5 degrees by 2030. The religious leaders have also reaffirmed their support for communities affected by climate change.
At COP28, representatives of different indigenous faiths and traditions, religious scholars, academics, women's organisations, young people, civil society, business leaders and environmental policy makers gathered in Abu Dhabi to express their sorrow for what is happening in our world. There, too, they recognised and acknowledged "the connections between climate change, migration, and conflict and the potential role for people of faith as 'environmental peacebuilders,' striving to forge pathways of compassion and mediation amid conflicts".
Call to action
The document calls for urgent responses to speed up the energy transition guaranteeing "equity and justice", inviting people to embrace a circular model to live "a balanced and dignified life in harmony with nature". It also appelas to businesses to switch from fossil fuels to clean energy sources; and to governments to promote sustainable agriculture in full guarantee of food security and protection of ecosystems. "No one must be left behind," reads the text, emphasising "the needs of all people, especially children, vulnerable communities facing disaster and conflict, young people, women, and Indigenous Peoples, as well as animals and nature, must be at the center of our endeavors".
For a different future in harmony with the earth
The religious leaders then pledge to change their consumption patterns and promote sustainable ones. They also promise to raise their voices for the defence of biodiversity and wildlife conservation, to support equality and the rights of indigenous peoples, "defending the ancestral wisdom that is entwined with the Earth's well-being."
"As we stand at the precipice of history, considering the gravity of the challenges we collectively face, we remain mindful of the legacy we will leave for generations to come, "the document reads. "We ardently implore all decision-makers assembled at COP28 to seize this decisive moment and to act with urgency, weaving a tapestry of shared action and profound responsibility".
Finally, the document calls for swift, collaborative and resolute action "to heal our wounded world and preserve the splendor of our common home. In the process, we need to bring back hope for future generations. Together, we extend our open arms to all people, inviting them to embark on this journey toward a future of resilience, harmony, and flourishing for all life on Earth".
Learn more HERE!:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/... ********
Pope Francis urges religious leaders to work together for peace and climate
Pope Francis sends a video message for the inauguration of the "Faith Pavilion" during COP28 in Dubai, and highlights the need for alliances that promote care for Creation and peace.
By Francesca Merlo
At the heart of Pope Francis’ video message to Dubai for the inauguration of the “COP28 Faith Pavilion” is the idea of creating alliances for the common good.
The Pope's message, broadcast on Sunday morning during the event, was entrusted to the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, as Pope Francis was unable to attend as planned as a precautionary measure while he recovers from pulmonary inflammation.
Learn more HERE!:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20... ********
Pope: End of Gaza truce means ‘death, destruction and misery'
Speaking after his Sunday Angelus prayer, Pope Francis expresses his “pain” at the renewal of hostilities in Gaza, inviting those involved to “take courageous paths of peace.” By Joseph Tulloch
“It pains me that the truce has been broken: this means death, destruction, misery.”
Those were Pope Francis’ words on the end of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement, which broke down on Friday.
As the Pope is recovering from an inflammation of the lungs, his reflections were read aloud by Msgr. Paolo Braida, an official of the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, while the Pope sat beside him.
“Many hostages have been freed,” the Pope continued, “but many are still in Gaza. We think of them, of their families who had seen a light, a hope that they might embrace their loved ones again.”
He added that “there is so much suffering in Gaza; there is a lack of basic necessities."
"I hope," he said, "that all those involved can reach a new ceasefire agreement as soon as possible and find solutions other than arms, trying to take courageous paths to peace.”
Pope Francis has repeatedly called for the release of all hostages in Gaza, and for an immediate end to the hostilities there.
On Wednesday 22nd November, he met with a group of Palestinians with relatives in Gaza, and with individuals whose family members are being held hostage by Hamas.
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Posted By: agnes levine
Sunday, December 3rd 2023 at 2:35PM
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