By Philip Pullella
TOWNOFVATICANDec 25 – Pope Francis, in his Christmas message on Saturday, lamented the growing polarization in personal and international relations and said that only dialogue can resolve conflicts ranging from family disputes to threats of war.
In his message “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world), he called on people and world leaders to talk to each other rather than isolate themselves, a rift that he says has been exacerbated by the pandemic of COVID-19.
“Our capacity for social relations is put to the test, the tendency to close down, to fend for oneself, to give up going out, to meet, to collaborate, is reinforced,” he said from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica one Christmas rainy and windy in Rome.
Also at the international level there is the risk of avoiding dialogue, the risk that this complex crisis will lead to shortcuts instead of taking the longer paths of dialogue.
“But it is these, in reality, the only ones that lead to conflict resolution and lasting shared benefits,” he said.
Francis, who turned 85 last week, listed conflicts, tensions or crises in Syria, Yemen, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Sudan, South Sudan and elsewhere.
“We still see many conflicts, crises and contradictions. It seems that they never end and almost go unnoticed, “he said, speaking from the same balcony where he first appeared to the world as Pope after his election on March 13, 2013.
“We have become so accustomed that immense tragedies are already overlooked; we run the risk of not hearing the cries of pain and despair from many of our brothers and sisters, ”he said, speaking to an unusually small crowd due to restrictions on COVID-19 and the weather.
The pontiff invited to ask for “the strength to open ourselves to dialogue.”
“On this feast day – added the Pope – we implore him to arouse in our hearts longings for reconciliation and brotherhood,” he said.
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