(Vatican Radio) The Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, on Thursday addressed the UN Security Council about the role that grassroots movements, faith-based organizations and local communities play in conflict prevention and peacebuilding on the continent of Africa.
He was speaking during an open debate on Peacebuilding in Africa.
“The Catholic Church in Africa contributes directly to conflict prevention and peacebuilding through the capillary presence of its tens of thousands of institutions, like hospitals and dispensaries, schools and other centers of formation. Catholic humanitarian and charitable agencies work in all countries of Africa in various arenas, such as fostering village dialogues, providing emergency assistance and building small business capacities,” the Archbishop said.
He also called on the United Nations to help stop the arms trade on the continent.
“The proliferation of weapons simply aggravates situations of conflict and results in a huge human and material cost, which profoundly undermines the search for peace,” – Archbishop Auza said – “Peacebuilding can only be effective if human rights are promoted and fostered, if the human dignity of every human being is recognized and protected, and if we all stick together in mutual solidarity, leaving no one behind.”
The full text of Archbishop Auza’s intervention is below
Intervention of H.E. Archbishop Bernardito Auza
Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
United Nations Security Council Open Debate on
Peacebuilding in Africa
New York, 28 July 2016
Mr. President,
My delegation wishes to thank Japan’s Presidency of the Security Council for convening this Open Debate on Peacebuilding in Africa.
The divergent results of peacebuilding efforts in African countries in post-conflict situations suggest that there is not a single model of peacebuilding. Some countries have gained peace and stability and achieved sustained growth, while others continue to wallow in the mire of extreme poverty and unstable if not nonexistent institutions.
Quick-impact interventions like providing food security and basic health-care immediately after a conflict, medium-range initiatives like heavy investment in jobs creation, and long-term programs like institution-building are clearly important pillars to kick-start and sustain peacebuilding.
In addition to these, many other elements must come into play to achieve sustainable peace. My delegation would like to mention first of all the role that grassroots movements, faith-based organizations and local communities play in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. They enjoy concrete knowledge of local realities and immediate interactions with the local population.
They empower individuals and societies at a local level, identify and nurture new leaders, and rally communities to work together for the greater common good. They get results that local individuals and communities can easily relate to and identify with.
In this regard, the Catholic Church in Africa contributes directly to conflict prevention and peacebuilding through the capillary presence of its tens of thousands of institutions, like hospitals and dispensaries, schools and other centers of formation. Catholic humanitarian and charitable agencies work in all countries of Africa in various arenas, such as fostering village dialogues, providing emergency assistance and building small business capacities. The Holy See oversees this vast network of quick-impact, medium-term and long-term programs to foster the best possible levels of education and health-care, and to assure continuing efforts to prevent conflict and to build peace through dialogue and integral human development.
Indeed, the Holy See believes that to achieve sustainable peace, it is necessary to bring people together concretely in dialogue, so that opposing positions can be fairly and equally heard and agreed solutions can be found and implemented. It is only through dialogue and negotiation that peoples and nations feel that they are active protagonists of their own peace efforts. Without a collective sense of ownership and attachment to initiatives that concern them, such initiatives would always be considered as something imposed from outside.
The Holy See believes that all peace processes and peacebuilding efforts must go beyond formal negotiations, no matter how indispensable these may be. Formal diplomatic efforts must be accompanied by all forms of “informal diplomacies,” from dialogue among clans and tribes to collaboration among religions and other civil society stakeholders, from discussions between nomadic and settled communities to fair trade talks about Africa’s enormous natural resources at the level of Governments and multinational corporations. Some African countries have achieved sustained peace and development because they have been able to harness “informal and track II diplomacies” fruitfully in a way that complements the formal diplomacy of States and multilateral bodies, thus helping communities and peoples to accept and assimilate the efforts of formal negotiations.
Particularly important to peacebuilding, moreover, are the contributions of women and youth. The Holy See commends the efforts of this Council and of National Governments to arrive at a fuller recognition of the vital role of women in preventive diplomacy, mediation and the peacebuilding process. Similarly, the Holy See commends the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations for recognizing youth as active stakeholders, participants, leaders and partners in the peace process.
Mr. President,
Conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts require, more often than not, considerably more resources than ending wars and civil strife. They demand perseverance, long-term vision and commitment. They are consolidated through thousands of daily actions that are the building blocks of just and peaceful societies. They are achieved when leaders and citizens transcend selfish interests for the common good, reject a spirit of vengeance and take the path of healing and reconciliation.
In this context, it is vital to press for greater progress in disarmament efforts and in checking the legal and illegal arms trade. The proliferation of weapons simply aggravates situations of conflict and results in a huge human and material cost, which profoundly undermines the search for peace. It is the responsibility of the entire international community to further incentivise concrete efforts in this area and to support the commitment of civil society and of religious institutions aimed at preventing conflict.
Peacebuilding can only be effective if human rights are promoted and fostered, if the human dignity of every human being is recognized and protected, and if we all stick together in mutual solidarity, leaving no one behind. In a visit to a favela in Rio de Janeiro three years ago, Pope Francis said: “No amount of ‘peace-building’ will be able to last, nor will harmony and happiness be attained, in a society that ignores, pushes to the margins, or excludes a part of itself; it loses something essential. We must never, never allow the throwaway culture to enter our hearts! … No one is disposable!”
At the end of the day, no amount of conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts will succeed if the human person is not the heart of every consideration.
Thank you, Mr. President.
(from Vatican Radio)…
Young people on Thursday evening chanted and sang songs awaiting Pope Francis to come to the window of the Archbishop’s residence in Krakow and when he came out, the Square below erupted with cheers.
This evening’s remarks were directed at newly married couples and the Pope joked, they say today there is a good group here, in this square, newlyweds.”
He commended young men and women for having the courage to commit to marriage and because he said “it is not easy to form a family.”
The pope said that he sometimes is asked how married couples can surmount varies difficulties and he suggested that three words are always used, pardon, thanks, and forgiveness.
Marriage, the Pope stressed “is something so beautiful, so beautiful that we must preserve it, because it is forever.”
There will always be quarrels, but do not be afraid when this happens, underlined Pope Francis.
This is my advice, he said, “never finish the day without making peace. And you know why? Because the cold war the next day is very dangerous.”
The Holy Father concluded, “I invite you, before receiving the blessing, to pray for all the families present here, for newlyweds, for those who are already married for a long time.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis reached out to over a million young people gathered at Krakow’s Blonia Park on Thursday urging them to share God’s merciful love.
He was speaking during a welcome ceremony for young people attending the 31st World Youth Day in a giant park near Krakow.
Vatican Radio’s Lydia O’Kane is in Krakow with Pope Francis and sent us this report:
Despite persistent rain at Blonia meadows, nothing could dampen the spirits of the over 1 million World Youth Day pilgrims who had gathered to be with Pope Francis.
The Pope arrived to this welcome ceremony by tram which had been especially customised for the occasion in the Vatican colours of yellow and white.
His final stop was at Blonia and as he entered these grounds the party really got started. Taking to the podium the Pope was welcomed by a group of young people in a number of languages.
Then the Holy Father was treated to an evening which included traditional Polish dance, vibrant songs and the presentation of the images of a number of saints from the continents represented at this youth event
Against the backdrop of Jesus, Divine Mercy and drawings of the patrons of this World Youth Day, St John Paul II and St Faustina Kowalska, Pope Francis told the youth of the world gathered that, “mercy has a youthful face” adding, “we are going to make this World Youth Day an authentic Jubilee celebration.”
The Pope then told them that in his years as a bishop, he learned one thing. “Nothing is more beautiful than seeing the enthusiasm, dedication, zeal and energy with which so many young people live their lives.”
He also underlined that it pained him to meet young people who seemed to have “thrown in the towel”.
To find fulfilment, to gain new strength, there is a way, Pope Francis said. “His name is Jesus Christ.”
As this welcome ceremony drew to a close it seemed that the youth here where determined to take Pope Francis at his words from the night before, to do what young people do, to go out during these nights and make noise.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis paid an unscheduled call on Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, Archbishop-emeritus of Krakow.
Cardinal Macharski was Pope St. John Paul II’s immediate successor on the See of St. Stanislaus, which he held from 1978 until 2005.
The 89 year-old Cardinal Macharski is in University Hospital, Krakow, where he is receiving care for a protracted illness.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis told hundreds of thousands of World Youth Day pilgrims on Thursday to share God’s merciful love by building bridges and by tearing down barriers, walls and barbed wire. Speaking during a welcome ceremony in the giant Blonia Park, close to Krakow’s city centre, the Pope said “mercy has a youthful face” which can move us beyond our comfort zones and make us ready to embrace everyone. A merciful heart, he said, is able to be a place of refuge for the homeless, sharing bread with the hungry and welcoming refugees and migrants.
Recalling the legacy of Saint John Paul II, who began the tradition of World Youth Days, Pope Francis praised the “enthusiasm, dedication, zeal and energy with which so many young people live their lives”. He warned them not to be tempted by “dark paths” or to “run after peddlers of fond illusions”.
Instead, he urged them to be like Mary, Martha’s sister in the reading from St Luke’s Gospel, who made space to listen to Jesus in the midst of her busy life. The Pope told the young people to imitate Mary of Bethany and Mary of Nazareth by welcoming Jesus, by helping the poor and by listening attentively to other cultures and peoples, “even those we are afraid of because we consider them a threat”.
Please find below the English translation of Pope Francis’ prepared address to young people at the welcome ceremony of WYD in Blonie, Krakow,
Dear Young Friends, good evening!
At last we are together! Thank you for your warm welcome! I thank Cardinal Dziwisz, the bishops, priests, men and women religious, the seminarians and those who have accompanied you. I am also grateful to all those who made it possible for us to be here today, who “went the extra mile” so that we could celebrate our faith.
In this, the land of his birth, I especially want to thank Saint John Paul II, who first came up with the idea of these meetings and gave them such momentum. From his place in heaven, he is with us and he sees all of you: so many young people from such a variety of nations, cultures and languages but with one aim, that of rejoicing that Jesus is living in our midst. To say that Jesus is alive means to rekindle our enthusiasm in following him, to renew our passionate desire to be his disciples. What better opportunity to renew our friendship with Jesus than by building friendships among yourselves! What better way to build our friendship with Jesus than by sharing him with others! What better way to experience the contagious joy of the Gospel than by striving to bring the Good News to all kinds of painful and difficult situations!
Jesus called us to this Thirty-first World Youth Day. Jesus tells us: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall find mercy (Mt 5:7). Blessed indeed are they who can forgive, who show heartfelt compassion, who are capable of offering the very best of themselves to others.
Dear young people, in these days Poland is in a festive mood; in these days Poland wants to be the ever-youthful face of mercy. From this land, with you and all those young people who cannot be present today yet join us through the various communications media, we are going to make this World Youth Day an authentic Jubilee celebration.
In my years as a bishop, I have learned one thing. Nothing is more beautiful than seeing the enthusiasm, dedication, zeal and energy with which so many young people live their lives. When Jesus touches a young person’s heart, he or she becomes capable of truly great things. It is exciting to listen to you share your dreams, your questions and your impatience with those who say that things cannot change. For me, it is a gift of God to see so many of you, with all your questions, trying to make a difference. It is beautiful and heartwarming to see all that restlessness! Today the Church looks to you and wants to learn from you, to be reassured that the Father’s Mercy has an ever-youthful face, and constantly invites us to be part of his Kingdom.
Knowing your enthusiasm for mission, I repeat: mercy always has a youthful face! Because a merciful heart is motivated to move beyond its comfort zone. A merciful heart can go out and meet others; it is ready to embrace everyone. A merciful heart is able to be a place of refuge for those who are without a home or have lost their home; it is able to build a home and a family for those forced to emigrate; it knows the meaning of tenderness and compassion. A merciful heart can share its bread with the hungry and welcome refugees and migrants. To say the word “mercy” along with you is to speak of opportunity, future, commitment, trust, openness, hospitality, compassion and dreams.
Let me tell you another thing I have learned over these years. It pains me to meet young people who seem to have opted for “early retirement”. I worry when I see young people who have “thrown in the towel” before the game has even begun, who are defeated even before they begin to play, who walk around glumly as if life has no meaning. Deep down, young people like this are bored… and boring! But it is also hard, and troubling, to see young people who waste their lives looking for thrills or a feeling of being alive by taking dark paths and in the end having to pay for it… and pay dearly. It is disturbing to see young people squandering some of the best years of their lives, wasting their energies running after peddlers of fond illusions (where I come from, we call them “vendors of smoke”), who rob you of what is best in you.
We are gathered here to help one another other, because we do not want to be robbed of the best of ourselves. We don’t to be robbed of our energy, our joy, our dreams by fond illusions.
So I ask you: Are you looking for empty thrills in life, or do you want to feel a power that can give you a lasting sense of life and fulfilment? Empty thrills or the power of grace? To find fulfilment, to gain new strength, there is a way. It is not a thing or an object, but a person, and he is alive. His name is Jesus Christ.
Jesus can give you true passion for life. Jesus can inspire us not to settle for less, but to give the very best of ourselves. Jesus challenges us, spurs us on and helps us keep trying whenever we are tempted to give up. Jesus pushes us to keep our sights high and to dream of great things.
In the Gospel, we heard how Jesus, on his way to Jerusalem, stopped at a home – the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus – and was welcomed. He stopped, went in and spent time with them. The two women welcomed him because they knew he was open and attentive. Our many jobs and responsibilities can make us a bit like Martha: busy, scattered, constantly running from place to place… but we can also be like Mary: whenever we see a beautiful landscape, or look at a video from a friend on our cellphone, we can stop and think, stop and listen… In these days, Jesus wants to stop and enter our home. He will look at us hurrying about with all our concerns, as he did with Martha… and he will wait for us to listen to him, like Mary, to make space for him amid the bustle. May these be days given over to Jesus and to listening to one another. May they help us welcome Jesus in all those with whom we share our homes, our neighbourhoods, our groups and our schools.
Whoever welcomes Jesus, learns to love as Jesus does. So he asks us if we want a full life: Do you want a complete life? Start by letting yourself be open and attentive! Because happiness is sown and blossoms in mercy. That is his answer, his offer, his challenge, his adventure: mercy. Mercy always has a youthful face. Like that of Mary of Bethany, who sat as a disciple at the feet of Jesus and joyfully listened to his words, since she knew that there she would find peace. Like that of Mary of Nazareth, whose daring “Yes” launched her on the adventure of mercy. All generations would call her blessed; to all of us she is the “Mother of Mercy”.
All together, then, we ask the Lord: “Launch us on the adventure of mercy! Launch us on the adventure of building bridges and tearing down walls, barriers and barbed wire. Launch us on the adventure of helping the poor, those who feel lonely and abandoned, or no longer find meaning in their lives. Send us, like Mary of Bethany, to listen attentively to those we do not understand, those of other cultures and peoples, even those we are afraid of because we consider them a threat. Make us attentive to our elders, as Mary of Nazareth was to Elizabeth, in order to learn from their wisdom.
Here we are, Lord! Send us to share your merciful love. We want to welcome you in our midst during this World Youth Day. We want to affirm that our lives are fulfilled when they are shaped by mercy, for that is the better part, and it will never be taken from us.
(from Vatican Radio)…