At 10:30am this morning (4:30am EST) in the Sala Regia at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See for the exchange of New Year greetings.
Following a word of introduction offered by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, His Excellency, George Poulides, Ambassador of Cyprus to the Holy See, the Pope shared the following remarks.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
The beginning of a new year allows us to stop the frenetic succession of daily activities for a few moments while we draw some considerations on past events and reflect on the challenges that await us in the near future. I thank you for being present in such great numbers for our usual meeting, which is intended above all to be a favourable opportunity to share a cordial and auspicious thought. Through you, I wish to express my closeness to the peoples you represent, together with the wish that the year just begun may bring peace and well-being to each member of the human family.
I express particular gratitude to the Ambassador of Cyprus, His Excellency, George Poulides, for the kind words he addressed to me for the first time on behalf of all of you, as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See. I would like to address to each of you my particular appreciation for the work you perform on a daily basis in consolidating the relations between your respective countries and organizations and the Holy See, which is further strengthened by the signing or ratification of new agreements.
I refer in particular to the ratification of the Framework Agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Benin on the Statute of the Catholic Church in Benin, as well as the signing and ratification of the Agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of San Marino for the Teaching of Catholic Religion in public schools.
In the multilateral framework, the Holy See has also ratified the UNESCO Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications of Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific, and last March it joined the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, an initiative that aims to show how culture is at the service of peace and represents a unifying factor of the various European societies, able to increase the harmony between peoples. This is a sign of particular attention to an organization, which this year marks the 70th anniversary of its foundation, with which the Holy See has collaborated for many decades and recognizes its specific role in the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, in a space that seeks to embrace the entire European continent. Finally, on November 30th, the Vatican City State was admitted to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA).
Obedience to the spiritual mission, which springs from the imperative that the Lord Jesus addressed to the Apostle Peter: Feed my lambs (Jn 21:15), motivates the Pope - and therefore the Holy See - to be concerned about the entire human family and its necessities, even of a material and social nature. However, the Holy See does not intend to ingest the life of particular States, but aspires to be a listener attentive and sensitive to the problems that affect humanity, with the sincere and humble desire to put herself at the service of the good of every human being.
It is this concern that distinguishes today's meeting and that sustains me in the meetings with the many pilgrims who come to the Vatican from every part of the world, as well as with the peoples and communities that I had the joy of visiting last year through apostolic voyages in Chile, Peru, Switzerland, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
It is this concern that urges the Church everywhere to work at promoting the building up of peaceful and reconciled societies. In this perspective, I particularly think of the beloved Nicaragua, whose situation I follow closely, with the hope that the various political and social issues will find the path of dialogue in which they must engage for the good of the entire nation.
The consolidation of relations between the Holy See and Vietnam is also taking place in this context, in view of the appointment - in the near future - of a Resident Pontifical Representative, whose presence is primarily a manifestation of the concern of the Successor of Peter for that local Church.
Similarly, the signing of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China concerning the appointment of the Bishops in China, which took place on September 22 of this year must be understood in this context. As is well known, the latter case is the result of a long and thoughtful institutional dialogue, through which some stable elements of collaboration have been established between the Apostolic See and the civil Authorities. As I mentioned in the Message addressed to Chinese Catholics and to the universal Church (Message to Chinese Catholics and to the universal Church, 26 September 2018, 3), I had previously readmitted the remaining official Bishops without pontifical mandate into full ecclesial communion, inviting them to work generously for the reconciliation of Chinese Catholics and for renewed efforts toward evangelization. I thank the Lord because, for the first time in many years, all the Bishops in China are in full communion with the Successor of Peter and with the universal Church. A visible sign of this reality was also the participation of two Bishops from Mainland China at the recent Synod dedicated to young people. It is hoped that the continuation of contacts and the application of the signed Provisional Agreement will contribute to resolving the remaining questions and to ensuring those spaces necessary for an effective enjoyment of religious freedom.
Dear Ambassadors,
The year that has just begun includes several significant anniversaries, in addition to that of the Council of Europe which was mentioned earlier. Among these I would particularly like to mention one: the centenary of the League of Nations, established by the Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28, 1919. Why remember an organization that no longer exists today? Because it represents the beginning of modern multilateral diplomacy, by which states try to remove mutual relations from the logic of oppression that leads to war. The experiment of the League of Nations soon experienced those difficulties, known to all, which led exactly twenty years after its birth to a new and more lacerating conflict, which was the Second World War. Nonetheless, it has opened a path, which will be traveled with greater determination with the establishment in 1945 of the United Nations Organization: a road certainly bristling with difficulties and disagreements - not always effective, because unfortunately, conflicts still remain today - but still an undeniable opportunity for nations to meet and seek common solutions.
The indispensable premise of the success of multilateral diplomacy is the good will and good faith of the interlocutors, the willingness to engage in fair and sincere confrontation and the willingness to accept the inevitable compromises that arise from the confrontation between the parties involved. Where even one of these elements fails, the search for unilateral solutions prevails and, ultimately, so does the overwhelming of the strong over the weak. The League of Nations encountered a state of crisis precisely for these reasons and, unfortunately, we note that the same attitudes are still undermining the stability of the main international organizations.
Therefore, I consider it important that even in the present time the will of a peaceful and constructive negotiation between the various States does not fail, even though it is evident that relations within the international community, and the multilateral system as a whole, are going through difficult times, with the re-emergence of nationalistic tendencies, which undermine the vocation of international organizations to be a space for dialogue and meeting for all countries. This is partly due to a certain inability of the multilateral system to offer effective solutions to various unresolved situations, such as some frozen conflicts, and to address current challenges in a satisfactory way for the good of all. In part, it is the result of the evolution of national policies, more and more frequently determined by the search for an immediate and sectarian consensus, rather than by the patient pursuit of the common good with long-term responses. In part, it is also the result of the increased preponderance in international organizations of powers and interest groups that impose their visions and ideas, triggering new forms of ideological colonization, not infrequently disrespectful of the identity, dignity and sensitivity of peoples. In part, it is the consequence of the reaction in some areas of the world to a globalization that has developed in some ways too quickly and disorderly, so that a tension is produced between globalization and localization. We must therefore pay attention to the global dimension without losing sight of what is local. Faced with the idea of a spherical globalization, which levels differences and in which the particularities seem to disappear, it is easy for nationalisms to re-emerge, while globalization can also be an opportunity when it is multi-faceted, ie when it favours a positive tension between the identity of each people and country and globalization itself, according to the principle that the entirety is superior to the partial (cf Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii gaudium, 24 November 2013, 234).
Some of these attitudes refer to the period between the two world wars, during which populist and nationalist propensities prevailed over the actions of the League of Nations. The reappearance of such impulses today is progressively weakening the multilateral system, with the result of a general lack of confidence, a crisis of credibility of international politics and a progressive marginalization of the most vulnerable members of the family of nations.
In his memorable speech to the Assembly of the United Nations - the first such speech delivered by a Pontiff before that assembly - Saint Paul VI, whom I had the joy of canonizing last year, outlined the aims of multilateral diplomacy, its characteristics and responsibilities in the contemporary context, highlighting the elements of contact that exist as part of the spiritual mission of the Pope and therefore of the Holy See.
The primacy of justice and law
The first element of contact that I would like to recall is the primacy of justice and law: You - said Pope Montini - sanctioned the great principle that relations between peoples must be governed by reason, justice, law, negotiation, not by force, not by violence, not by war, nor by fear, nor by deception (Paul VI, Speech to the United Nations, New York, 4 October 1965, 2).
In our time, there are worries about the re-emergence of tendencies toward prevailing and pursuant individual national interests without resorting to those instruments that international law provides to resolve disputes and ensure respect for justice, including through international courts. This attitude is sometimes the result of the reaction of those who are called to govern responsibly in the face of a heightened malaise that is increasingly developing among the citizens of many countries who perceive the dynamics and rules that govern the international community as an abstract and untimely lens that is far from their actual needs. Political personalities should listen to the voices of their peoples and seek concrete solutions to promote their greater good. However, this requires respect for law and justice both within the national communities and within the international community, because reactive, emotional and hasty solutions can increase a short-term consensus, but they will certainly not contribute to solving the most radical problems, indeed they will increase them.
Precisely because of this concern, I wished to dedicate the Message for the 52nd World Day of Peace, celebrated on January 1st of this year, to the theme: Good politics is at the service of peace, since there is an intimate relationship between the good politics and peaceful coexistence between peoples and nations. Peace is never a partial good, but embraces all mankind. An essential aspect, therefore, of good politics is to pursue the common good of all, as the good of all men and of all humanity (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 165) and the social condition that allows each person and the whole community. to reach one's material and spiritual well-being.
Politics needs to be forward-looking, and not to limit itself to looking for short-term solutions. The good politician must not occupy spaces, but start processes; he is called to make unity prevail over conflict, at the basis of which is solidarity, understood in its deepest meaning and challenge. It becomes a style of creating history, a vital area where conflicts, tensions and opposites can reach a pluriform unity that generates new life (Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii gaudium, 24 November 2013, 228).
This consideration takes into account the transcendent dimension of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, respect for the dignity of every human being is the indispensable premise for any truly peaceful cohabitation, and law constitutes the essential instrument for achieving social justice and fostering fraternal bonds between peoples. In this context, a fundamental role is played by human rights, enunciated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - of which we have just celebrated the 70th anniversary - whose universal, objective and rational character should be rediscovered so that partial and subjective visions of mankind, which risk opening the way to new inequalities, injustices, discrimination and, in extreme cases, even new violence and abuse do not prevail.
The defence of the weak
The second element that I would like to mention is the defence of the weak. We make Our own - affirms Pope Montini - the voice of the poor, the dispossessed, the suffering, those yearning for justice, the dignity of life, freedom, well-being and progress (Speech to the United Nations, 1).
The Church has always been committed to assisting those in need and throughout these years the Holy See itself has become a promoter of various projects in support of the weak, who have also received support from various subjects at the international level. Among these I would like to mention the humanitarian initiative in Ukraine in favour of the suffering population, especially in the eastern regions of the country due to the conflict that has lasted for almost five years and has had some recent worrying developments in the Black Sea. With an active participation of the Catholic Churches of Europe and of the faithful from other parts of the world who answered my appeal in May 2016, and with the collaboration of other Confessions and International Organizations, we tried to provide in a concrete way for the basic necessities of the inhabitants in the affected territories who are the first victims of the war. The Church and its various institutions will continue this mission, with the aim of attracting greater attention to other humanitarian issues, including those concerning the fate of prisoners, who are still numerous. With its work and its closeness to the population, the Church seeks to directly and indirectly encourage peaceful paths toward the solution of the conflict, paths that respect justice and legality, including the international concerns, the foundation of security and cohabitation in the entire region. To this end, the instruments guaranteeing the free exercise of religious rights are important.
For its part, even the international community with its organizations is called to give voice to those who have no voice. And among the voiceless of our time I would like to remember the victims of the other wars currently in progress, especially those in Syria with the immense number of deaths that it has caused. Once again I appeal to the international community to promote a political solution to a conflict that will eventually only be defeated. Above all, it is essential that human rights violations cease; they cause untold suffering to the civilian population, especially women and children, and affect essential structures such as hospitals, schools and refugee camps, as well as religious buildings.
We can not forget the numerous refugees that the conflict has caused, putting the neighbouring countries to a severe test. Once again I want to express gratitude to Jordan and Lebanon who have welcomed numerous groups of people in a fraternal spirit and with many sacrifices, at the time same expressing the hope that the refugees can return home with the assurance of proper living conditions and adequate security. My thoughts also go out to the various European countries that have generously offered hospitality to those who have found themselves in difficulty and danger.
Among those who have been touched by the instability that has affected the Middle East for years, there are especially the Christians who have lived in those lands since the time of the Apostles and who have helped to build and forge them over the centuries. It is extremely important for Christians to have a place in the future of the region, and therefore I encourage those who have sought refuge in other places to do their best to return to their homes and in any case to maintain and strengthen ties with their communities of origin. At the same time, I hope that the political authorities will not fail to guarantee them the necessary security and all the other requirements that allow them to continue living in the countries of which they are full citizens and to contribute to their continued enhancement.
Unfortunately, during these years, Syria and other countries in general throughout the Middle East have found themselves to be the scene of a clash of multiple opposing interests. In addition to the pre-eminent clashes of a political and military nature, the attempt to put enmity between Muslims and Christians must not be neglected. Although in the course of the centuries, not a few dissensions and enmities have arisen between Christians and Muslims (Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Declaration Nostra ætate concerning the Church's relations with other non-Christian religions, 28 October 1965, 3), in different parts of the Middle East they have for a long time been able to live peacefully. Soon I will have the opportunity to go to two countries with a Muslim majority: Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. These will be two important opportunities for further developing inter-religious dialogue and mutual understanding among the faithful of both religions, in the eighth centenary of the historic meeting between Saint Francis of Assisi and the sultan al-Malik al-Kāmil.
Among the weak of our time that the international community is called to defend, there are also migrants, along with refugees. Once again, I wish to draw the attention of governments to helping those who have emigrated due to the scourge of poverty, due to all kinds of violence and persecution, or natural disasters and climatic upheavals, and to facilitate the measures that allow their social integration in the host countries. It is then necessary to make sure that people are not forced to abandon their families and their nations, or that they can return safely, fully respecting their dignity and human rights. Every human being yearns for a better and happier life and we cannot solve the challenge of migration with the logic of violence and waste, nor with partial solutions.
I cannot but be grateful for the efforts of many governments and institutions that, driven by a generous spirit of solidarity and Christian charity, collaborate fraternally in favour of migrants. Among these I would like to mention Colombia, which, together with other countries on that continent, has received a large number of people from Venezuela in recent months. At the same time, I am aware that the migratory waves that have gone on during these years have caused mistrust and concern among the population of many countries, especially in Europe and North America, and this has led several governments to strongly limit incoming flows, even if the migrants are in transit. However, I believe that it is not possible to give partial solutions to such a universal question. Recent emergencies have shown that a common response is needed, coordinated by all countries, without preclusions and in respect of every legitimate request, both of States, and of migrants and refugees.
With this in mind, the Holy See has been actively involved in negotiations and the adoption of the two Global Agreements on Refugees and on secure, orderly and regular migration. In particular, the Migration Pact represents an important step forward for the international community, which, for the first time at the United Nations, addresses the issue in a relevant document on a multilateral level. Notwithstanding the non-binding nature of these documents and the absence of various Governments at the recent UN Conference in Marrakech, the two Agreements will be important points of reference for the political commitment and for the concrete action of international organizations, legislators and politicians, as well as those committed to a more responsible, coordinated and secure management of situations affecting refugees and migrants in various capacities. Concerning both the Pacts, the Holy See appreciates the intent and the character that facilitates their implementation, despite having expressed reservations about those documents referred to in the Migration Pact, which contain terminologies and guidelines that do not correspond to the principles of life and the rights of people.
Among the others who are weak, "we feel that we are making Our own - continued Paul VI - the voice ... of the young people of the present generations, who rightly dream of a better humanity (Pope Paul VI, Speech to the United Nations, 1). The XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was dedicated to young people, who often feel lost and without certainties for the future. They will also be the protagonists of the apostolic journey that I will undertake in Panama in a few days on the occasion of the XXXIV World Youth Day. Young people are the future, and the task of politics is to open the streets of the future. This is why it is absolutely necessary to invest in initiatives that allow future generations to build a future, having the opportunity to find work, form a family and raise children.
Young people deserve special mention, especially in this year which marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This is a favourable opportunity for serious reflection on the steps taken to watch over the good of our children and their social and intellectual development, as well as their physical, mental and spiritual growth. In this circumstance, I can not keep silent about one of the scourges of our time, which unfortunately also has involved the participation of several members of the clergy. Abuse against minors is one of the worst and most vile crimes possible. Perpetrators inexorably sweep the best of what human life reserves for an innocent young person, causing irreparable damage for the rest of that youngster's existence. The Holy See and the whole Church are working to fight and prevent such crimes and their concealment, to ascertain the truth of the facts in which clergymen are involved and to do justice for the children who have suffered sexual violence, aggravated by abuse of power and of conscience. The meeting I will have with the episcopates of the whole world next month intends to be a further step in the Church's journey to shed light on the facts and to soothe the wounds caused by these crimes.
It is hard to see that in our societies, so often characterized by fragile family contexts, violent behaviour also develops towards women, whose dignity is at the centre of the Apostolic Letter Mulieris dignitatem, published thirty years ago by the Holy Pontiff John Paul II. Faced with the scourge of physical and psychological abuse on women, there is an urgent need to rediscover just and balanced forms of relationships based on mutual respect and recognition, in which everyone can express their identity in an authentic way, while promoting some forms of differentiation and risking distorting the character of a man or a woman.
Attention paid to the weak pushes us to reflect on another scourge of our time, which is the conditions facing workers. If their rights are not adequately protected, work ceases to be the means by which man is fulfilled and becomes a modern form of slavery. One hundred years ago the International Labor Organization was born, a group which has worked to promote adequate working conditions and to increase the dignity of the workers themselves. Faced with the challenges of our time, the growing technological development that subtracts jobs and the loss of economic and social guarantees for workers, I express the hope that the International Labor Organization will continue to be, beyond partial interests, an example of dialogue in order to achieve its high goals. In this mission, she is called to face, with other instances of the international community, the scourge of child labor and new forms of slavery, as well as a progressive decrease in the value of wages, especially in developed countries, and the persistent discrimination of women in working environments.
Being bridges between people and artisans of peace
In his intervention at the United Nations, Saint Paul VI clearly indicated the main objective of that international organization. You - he said - exist and work to unite nations, to connect states; ... to put together with each other ... You are a bridge between the peoples ... Just remember that the blood of millions of men and countless and unheard-of suffering, unnecessary massacres and formidable ruins sanction the pact that unites you, with an oath that must change the future history of the world: no more war, no more war! Peace, peace must guide the fate of the peoples and of all humanity! ... And you know that peace is not built only with politics and with the balance of forces and interests, but with the spirit, with the ideas, with the work of peace (Saint Paul VI, Speech to the United Nations, 3, 5).
During the last year there have been some significant signs of peace, starting with the historic agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which puts an end to twenty years of conflict and restores diplomatic relations between the two countries. Even the agreement signed by the leaders of South Sudan, which allows the resumption of civil coexistence and the reactivation of the functioning of national institutions, is a sign of hope for the African continent, where however there remain serious tensions and widespread poverty. I am following with special attention the evolution of the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, expressing the hope that the country can find the reconciliation that it has long awaited and embark on a decisive path towards development, putting an end to the persistent state of insecurity affecting millions of people, including many children. To this end, respect for the election results is a determining factor for sustainable peace. Likewise, I express my closeness to those who are suffering because of fundamentalist violence, especially in Mali, Niger and Nigeria, or because of the persistent internal tensions in Cameroon which sow death not infrequently among the civilian population.
On the whole, it should also be noted that Africa, beyond several dramatic events, reveals a potential positive dynamism, rooted in its ancient culture and traditional welcome. An example of effective solidarity between nations is the opening of borders in different countries to generously welcome refugees and displaced persons. It is to be appreciated that in many States the peaceful coexistence of believers of different religions is growing and joint common initiatives are encouraged. Furthermore, the implementation of inclusive policies and the progress of democratic processes are giving effective results in many regions to combat absolute poverty and promote social justice. Therefore, the support of the international community becomes even more urgent to favour the development of infrastructures, the construction of perspectives for the younger generations and the emancipation of the weakest sectors.
Positive signs have come from the Korean peninsula. The Holy See looks favourably at the dialogues and hopes that they will be able to address even the most complex issues with a constructive attitude and lead to shared and lasting solutions, so as to ensure a future of development and cooperation for the entire Korean people and for the whole Region.
An analogous wish for the beloved Venezuela is to find institutional and peaceful ways to resolve the political, social and economic crisis, ways that allow first of all those who are tried by the tensions of these years and offer to all the Venezuelan people a horizon of hope and peace.
The Holy See also hopes that dialogue will resume between Israelis and Palestinians, so that we can finally reach an agreement and respond to the legitimate aspirations of both peoples, ensuring the coexistence of two states and the achievement of a long-awaited and desired peace. The concerted effort of the international community is very precious and necessary to achieve this goal, as well as to promote peace in the whole region, particularly in Yemen and Iraq, and at the same time allow the necessary humanitarian aid to the populations in need.
Rethinking our common destiny
Finally, I would like to recall a fourth part of multilateral diplomacy: it invites us to rethink our common destiny. Paul VI had this to say: "We must get used to thinking ... in a new way about the coexistence of humanity, in a new way about the paths of history and the destinies of the world ... It is the hour in which ... to rethink, that is, to our common origin, to our history, to our common destiny. Never before today, in an era of so much human progress, has it become necessary to appeal to the moral conscience of man! The danger comes neither from progress nor from science ... The real danger lies in man, master of ever more powerful instruments, acts of ruin and the highest conquests! (Saint Paul VI, Speech to the United Nations, 7).
In the context of the time, the Pope referred essentially to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. "The weapons, he said, especially the terrible ones that modern science has given us, even before producing victims and ruins, generate bad dreams, feed bad feelings, create nightmares, distrust and sad intentions, demand enormous expenses, arrest projects of solidarity and useful work, distort the psychology of the peoples (Saint Paul VI, Speech to the United Nations, 5)
Unfortunately, it is regrettable to note that not only the arms market does not seem to suffer setbacks, but rather that there is an increasingly widespread tendency to arm themselves, both on the part of individuals and on the part of the States. We are especially concerned that nuclear disarmament, widely desired and partly pursued in past decades, is now giving way to new and increasingly sophisticated and destructive weapons. Here I intend to reiterate that "we can not but feel a strong sense of disquiet if we consider the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences that derive from any use of nuclear devices. Therefore, even considering the risk of an accidental detonation of such weapons for an error of any kind, it is to be firmly condemned the threat of their use - I would say the immorality of their use - as well as their own possession, precisely because their existence is functional to a logic of fear that does not concern only the parties in conflict, but the entire human race. International relations can not be dominated by military force, by mutual intimidation, by the ostentation of war arsenals. Weapons of mass destruction, particularly atomic weapons, are nothing but a deceptive sense of security and can not be the basis of peaceful coexistence among the members of the human family, which must instead be inspired by an ethic of solidarity (Speech to participants taking part in the International Symposium on Disarmament organized by the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, 10 November 2017).
Rethinking our common destiny in the current context also means rethinking our relationship with our planet. Also this year unspeakable hardships and suffering caused by flooding, fires, earthquakes and droughts have hit the populations of various regions of the American continent and Southeast Asia. Environmental issues and climate change are therefore among the issues on which it is particularly urgent to find an agreement within the international community. In this regard, also in light of the consensus reached at the recent International Climate Conference (COP-24) held in Katowice, I hope for a more decisive commitment by the States to strengthen the collaboration in urgently tackling the worrying phenomenon of global warming. The Earth belongs to everyone and the consequences of its exploitation fall on the entire world population, with more dramatic effects in some regions than in others. Among these there is the Amazon, which will be the focus of the next Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops scheduled to take place at the Vatican in October of this year; while dealing mainly with the paths of evangelization for the people of God, this Assembly will also not fail to address the environmental problems in close relationship with their related social consequences.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On November 9, 1989 the Berlin Wall fell. From that point, a few months would put an end to the last legacy of the Second World War: the lacerating division of Europe decided upon in Yalta and the ensuing Cold War. The countries to the east of the Iron Curtain regained their freedom after decades of oppression and many of them began to walk along the road that would lead them to join the European Union. In the current context, new centrifugal thrusts prevail and the temptation to build new curtains, the awareness of the benefits - first of all peace - in the path of friendship and rapprochement between the peoples undertaken after World War II are not lost in Europe.
There is one last anniversary which I would like to mention today. The Vatican City State was born on February 11, ninety years ago, following the signing of the Lateran Agreement between the Holy See and Italy. Thus ended the long period of the Roman question followed by the capture of Rome and the end of the Papal States. With the Lateran Treaty the Holy See could dispose of "so much material territory which is indispensable for the exercise of a spiritual power entrusted to men for the benefit of men (Pius XI, Speech entitled Our most cordial addressed to the Pastors of Rome and the Preachers of the Lenten period on the occasion of the signing of the Treaty and the Concordat inside the Lateran Palace, 11 February 1929), as Pius XI affirmed, and with that Concordat the Church could once again contribute fully to the spiritual and material growth of Rome and of all of Italy, a land rich in history, art and culture, which Christianity has helped to forge. On this occasion, I assure the Italian people of a special prayer so that, in fidelity to their traditions, we may keep alive the spirit of fraternal solidarity that has long distinguished them.
To all of you, dear Ambassadors and distinguished guests gathered here, and to your respective countries, I offer my cordial greetings that this new year may permit us to strengthen the bonds of friendship which bind us and to strive together to build the peace to which the world aspires.
Thank you!
(Original text in Italian)
There are 183 States that currently have diplomatic relations with the Holy See. The European Union and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta must also be added to these States. There are 89 Embassy Chancelleries based in Rome, including those of the European Union and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. The offices of the League of Arab States, of the International Organization for Migration and of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees are also based in Rome.
During the year 2018, on June 26, the Agreement for the teaching of the Catholic Religion in public schools between the Holy See and the Republic of San Marino was signed; it was ratified on the following 1st October. On 23 August 2018 the Framework Agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Benin concerning the Statute of the Catholic Church in Benin was ratified. On September 22, 2018, the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China was signed concerning the appointment of Bishops in China. Furthermore, on 16 July 2018 the Holy See deposited the instrument of ratification of the UNESCO Regional Convention concerning the recognition of higher education qualifications in Asia and the Pacific, while on March 21, 2018, it joined the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Itineraries Cultural Council of Europe. On 30 November 2018, the Vatican City State was admitted to the Single Area for payments in Euro (SEPA).
(Original text in Italian)
Following a word of introduction offered by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, His Excellency, George Poulides, Ambassador of Cyprus to the Holy See, the Pope shared the following remarks.
Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
addressed to members of the Diplomatic Corps
accredited to the Holy See
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
The beginning of a new year allows us to stop the frenetic succession of daily activities for a few moments while we draw some considerations on past events and reflect on the challenges that await us in the near future. I thank you for being present in such great numbers for our usual meeting, which is intended above all to be a favourable opportunity to share a cordial and auspicious thought. Through you, I wish to express my closeness to the peoples you represent, together with the wish that the year just begun may bring peace and well-being to each member of the human family.
I express particular gratitude to the Ambassador of Cyprus, His Excellency, George Poulides, for the kind words he addressed to me for the first time on behalf of all of you, as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See. I would like to address to each of you my particular appreciation for the work you perform on a daily basis in consolidating the relations between your respective countries and organizations and the Holy See, which is further strengthened by the signing or ratification of new agreements.
I refer in particular to the ratification of the Framework Agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Benin on the Statute of the Catholic Church in Benin, as well as the signing and ratification of the Agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of San Marino for the Teaching of Catholic Religion in public schools.
In the multilateral framework, the Holy See has also ratified the UNESCO Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications of Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific, and last March it joined the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, an initiative that aims to show how culture is at the service of peace and represents a unifying factor of the various European societies, able to increase the harmony between peoples. This is a sign of particular attention to an organization, which this year marks the 70th anniversary of its foundation, with which the Holy See has collaborated for many decades and recognizes its specific role in the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, in a space that seeks to embrace the entire European continent. Finally, on November 30th, the Vatican City State was admitted to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA).
Obedience to the spiritual mission, which springs from the imperative that the Lord Jesus addressed to the Apostle Peter: Feed my lambs (Jn 21:15), motivates the Pope - and therefore the Holy See - to be concerned about the entire human family and its necessities, even of a material and social nature. However, the Holy See does not intend to ingest the life of particular States, but aspires to be a listener attentive and sensitive to the problems that affect humanity, with the sincere and humble desire to put herself at the service of the good of every human being.
It is this concern that distinguishes today's meeting and that sustains me in the meetings with the many pilgrims who come to the Vatican from every part of the world, as well as with the peoples and communities that I had the joy of visiting last year through apostolic voyages in Chile, Peru, Switzerland, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
It is this concern that urges the Church everywhere to work at promoting the building up of peaceful and reconciled societies. In this perspective, I particularly think of the beloved Nicaragua, whose situation I follow closely, with the hope that the various political and social issues will find the path of dialogue in which they must engage for the good of the entire nation.
The consolidation of relations between the Holy See and Vietnam is also taking place in this context, in view of the appointment - in the near future - of a Resident Pontifical Representative, whose presence is primarily a manifestation of the concern of the Successor of Peter for that local Church.
Similarly, the signing of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China concerning the appointment of the Bishops in China, which took place on September 22 of this year must be understood in this context. As is well known, the latter case is the result of a long and thoughtful institutional dialogue, through which some stable elements of collaboration have been established between the Apostolic See and the civil Authorities. As I mentioned in the Message addressed to Chinese Catholics and to the universal Church (Message to Chinese Catholics and to the universal Church, 26 September 2018, 3), I had previously readmitted the remaining official Bishops without pontifical mandate into full ecclesial communion, inviting them to work generously for the reconciliation of Chinese Catholics and for renewed efforts toward evangelization. I thank the Lord because, for the first time in many years, all the Bishops in China are in full communion with the Successor of Peter and with the universal Church. A visible sign of this reality was also the participation of two Bishops from Mainland China at the recent Synod dedicated to young people. It is hoped that the continuation of contacts and the application of the signed Provisional Agreement will contribute to resolving the remaining questions and to ensuring those spaces necessary for an effective enjoyment of religious freedom.
Dear Ambassadors,
The year that has just begun includes several significant anniversaries, in addition to that of the Council of Europe which was mentioned earlier. Among these I would particularly like to mention one: the centenary of the League of Nations, established by the Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28, 1919. Why remember an organization that no longer exists today? Because it represents the beginning of modern multilateral diplomacy, by which states try to remove mutual relations from the logic of oppression that leads to war. The experiment of the League of Nations soon experienced those difficulties, known to all, which led exactly twenty years after its birth to a new and more lacerating conflict, which was the Second World War. Nonetheless, it has opened a path, which will be traveled with greater determination with the establishment in 1945 of the United Nations Organization: a road certainly bristling with difficulties and disagreements - not always effective, because unfortunately, conflicts still remain today - but still an undeniable opportunity for nations to meet and seek common solutions.
The indispensable premise of the success of multilateral diplomacy is the good will and good faith of the interlocutors, the willingness to engage in fair and sincere confrontation and the willingness to accept the inevitable compromises that arise from the confrontation between the parties involved. Where even one of these elements fails, the search for unilateral solutions prevails and, ultimately, so does the overwhelming of the strong over the weak. The League of Nations encountered a state of crisis precisely for these reasons and, unfortunately, we note that the same attitudes are still undermining the stability of the main international organizations.
Therefore, I consider it important that even in the present time the will of a peaceful and constructive negotiation between the various States does not fail, even though it is evident that relations within the international community, and the multilateral system as a whole, are going through difficult times, with the re-emergence of nationalistic tendencies, which undermine the vocation of international organizations to be a space for dialogue and meeting for all countries. This is partly due to a certain inability of the multilateral system to offer effective solutions to various unresolved situations, such as some frozen conflicts, and to address current challenges in a satisfactory way for the good of all. In part, it is the result of the evolution of national policies, more and more frequently determined by the search for an immediate and sectarian consensus, rather than by the patient pursuit of the common good with long-term responses. In part, it is also the result of the increased preponderance in international organizations of powers and interest groups that impose their visions and ideas, triggering new forms of ideological colonization, not infrequently disrespectful of the identity, dignity and sensitivity of peoples. In part, it is the consequence of the reaction in some areas of the world to a globalization that has developed in some ways too quickly and disorderly, so that a tension is produced between globalization and localization. We must therefore pay attention to the global dimension without losing sight of what is local. Faced with the idea of a spherical globalization, which levels differences and in which the particularities seem to disappear, it is easy for nationalisms to re-emerge, while globalization can also be an opportunity when it is multi-faceted, ie when it favours a positive tension between the identity of each people and country and globalization itself, according to the principle that the entirety is superior to the partial (cf Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii gaudium, 24 November 2013, 234).
Some of these attitudes refer to the period between the two world wars, during which populist and nationalist propensities prevailed over the actions of the League of Nations. The reappearance of such impulses today is progressively weakening the multilateral system, with the result of a general lack of confidence, a crisis of credibility of international politics and a progressive marginalization of the most vulnerable members of the family of nations.
In his memorable speech to the Assembly of the United Nations - the first such speech delivered by a Pontiff before that assembly - Saint Paul VI, whom I had the joy of canonizing last year, outlined the aims of multilateral diplomacy, its characteristics and responsibilities in the contemporary context, highlighting the elements of contact that exist as part of the spiritual mission of the Pope and therefore of the Holy See.
The primacy of justice and law
The first element of contact that I would like to recall is the primacy of justice and law: You - said Pope Montini - sanctioned the great principle that relations between peoples must be governed by reason, justice, law, negotiation, not by force, not by violence, not by war, nor by fear, nor by deception (Paul VI, Speech to the United Nations, New York, 4 October 1965, 2).
In our time, there are worries about the re-emergence of tendencies toward prevailing and pursuant individual national interests without resorting to those instruments that international law provides to resolve disputes and ensure respect for justice, including through international courts. This attitude is sometimes the result of the reaction of those who are called to govern responsibly in the face of a heightened malaise that is increasingly developing among the citizens of many countries who perceive the dynamics and rules that govern the international community as an abstract and untimely lens that is far from their actual needs. Political personalities should listen to the voices of their peoples and seek concrete solutions to promote their greater good. However, this requires respect for law and justice both within the national communities and within the international community, because reactive, emotional and hasty solutions can increase a short-term consensus, but they will certainly not contribute to solving the most radical problems, indeed they will increase them.
Precisely because of this concern, I wished to dedicate the Message for the 52nd World Day of Peace, celebrated on January 1st of this year, to the theme: Good politics is at the service of peace, since there is an intimate relationship between the good politics and peaceful coexistence between peoples and nations. Peace is never a partial good, but embraces all mankind. An essential aspect, therefore, of good politics is to pursue the common good of all, as the good of all men and of all humanity (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 165) and the social condition that allows each person and the whole community. to reach one's material and spiritual well-being.
Politics needs to be forward-looking, and not to limit itself to looking for short-term solutions. The good politician must not occupy spaces, but start processes; he is called to make unity prevail over conflict, at the basis of which is solidarity, understood in its deepest meaning and challenge. It becomes a style of creating history, a vital area where conflicts, tensions and opposites can reach a pluriform unity that generates new life (Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii gaudium, 24 November 2013, 228).
This consideration takes into account the transcendent dimension of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, respect for the dignity of every human being is the indispensable premise for any truly peaceful cohabitation, and law constitutes the essential instrument for achieving social justice and fostering fraternal bonds between peoples. In this context, a fundamental role is played by human rights, enunciated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - of which we have just celebrated the 70th anniversary - whose universal, objective and rational character should be rediscovered so that partial and subjective visions of mankind, which risk opening the way to new inequalities, injustices, discrimination and, in extreme cases, even new violence and abuse do not prevail.
The defence of the weak
The second element that I would like to mention is the defence of the weak. We make Our own - affirms Pope Montini - the voice of the poor, the dispossessed, the suffering, those yearning for justice, the dignity of life, freedom, well-being and progress (Speech to the United Nations, 1).
The Church has always been committed to assisting those in need and throughout these years the Holy See itself has become a promoter of various projects in support of the weak, who have also received support from various subjects at the international level. Among these I would like to mention the humanitarian initiative in Ukraine in favour of the suffering population, especially in the eastern regions of the country due to the conflict that has lasted for almost five years and has had some recent worrying developments in the Black Sea. With an active participation of the Catholic Churches of Europe and of the faithful from other parts of the world who answered my appeal in May 2016, and with the collaboration of other Confessions and International Organizations, we tried to provide in a concrete way for the basic necessities of the inhabitants in the affected territories who are the first victims of the war. The Church and its various institutions will continue this mission, with the aim of attracting greater attention to other humanitarian issues, including those concerning the fate of prisoners, who are still numerous. With its work and its closeness to the population, the Church seeks to directly and indirectly encourage peaceful paths toward the solution of the conflict, paths that respect justice and legality, including the international concerns, the foundation of security and cohabitation in the entire region. To this end, the instruments guaranteeing the free exercise of religious rights are important.
For its part, even the international community with its organizations is called to give voice to those who have no voice. And among the voiceless of our time I would like to remember the victims of the other wars currently in progress, especially those in Syria with the immense number of deaths that it has caused. Once again I appeal to the international community to promote a political solution to a conflict that will eventually only be defeated. Above all, it is essential that human rights violations cease; they cause untold suffering to the civilian population, especially women and children, and affect essential structures such as hospitals, schools and refugee camps, as well as religious buildings.
We can not forget the numerous refugees that the conflict has caused, putting the neighbouring countries to a severe test. Once again I want to express gratitude to Jordan and Lebanon who have welcomed numerous groups of people in a fraternal spirit and with many sacrifices, at the time same expressing the hope that the refugees can return home with the assurance of proper living conditions and adequate security. My thoughts also go out to the various European countries that have generously offered hospitality to those who have found themselves in difficulty and danger.
Among those who have been touched by the instability that has affected the Middle East for years, there are especially the Christians who have lived in those lands since the time of the Apostles and who have helped to build and forge them over the centuries. It is extremely important for Christians to have a place in the future of the region, and therefore I encourage those who have sought refuge in other places to do their best to return to their homes and in any case to maintain and strengthen ties with their communities of origin. At the same time, I hope that the political authorities will not fail to guarantee them the necessary security and all the other requirements that allow them to continue living in the countries of which they are full citizens and to contribute to their continued enhancement.
Unfortunately, during these years, Syria and other countries in general throughout the Middle East have found themselves to be the scene of a clash of multiple opposing interests. In addition to the pre-eminent clashes of a political and military nature, the attempt to put enmity between Muslims and Christians must not be neglected. Although in the course of the centuries, not a few dissensions and enmities have arisen between Christians and Muslims (Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Declaration Nostra ætate concerning the Church's relations with other non-Christian religions, 28 October 1965, 3), in different parts of the Middle East they have for a long time been able to live peacefully. Soon I will have the opportunity to go to two countries with a Muslim majority: Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. These will be two important opportunities for further developing inter-religious dialogue and mutual understanding among the faithful of both religions, in the eighth centenary of the historic meeting between Saint Francis of Assisi and the sultan al-Malik al-Kāmil.
Among the weak of our time that the international community is called to defend, there are also migrants, along with refugees. Once again, I wish to draw the attention of governments to helping those who have emigrated due to the scourge of poverty, due to all kinds of violence and persecution, or natural disasters and climatic upheavals, and to facilitate the measures that allow their social integration in the host countries. It is then necessary to make sure that people are not forced to abandon their families and their nations, or that they can return safely, fully respecting their dignity and human rights. Every human being yearns for a better and happier life and we cannot solve the challenge of migration with the logic of violence and waste, nor with partial solutions.
I cannot but be grateful for the efforts of many governments and institutions that, driven by a generous spirit of solidarity and Christian charity, collaborate fraternally in favour of migrants. Among these I would like to mention Colombia, which, together with other countries on that continent, has received a large number of people from Venezuela in recent months. At the same time, I am aware that the migratory waves that have gone on during these years have caused mistrust and concern among the population of many countries, especially in Europe and North America, and this has led several governments to strongly limit incoming flows, even if the migrants are in transit. However, I believe that it is not possible to give partial solutions to such a universal question. Recent emergencies have shown that a common response is needed, coordinated by all countries, without preclusions and in respect of every legitimate request, both of States, and of migrants and refugees.
With this in mind, the Holy See has been actively involved in negotiations and the adoption of the two Global Agreements on Refugees and on secure, orderly and regular migration. In particular, the Migration Pact represents an important step forward for the international community, which, for the first time at the United Nations, addresses the issue in a relevant document on a multilateral level. Notwithstanding the non-binding nature of these documents and the absence of various Governments at the recent UN Conference in Marrakech, the two Agreements will be important points of reference for the political commitment and for the concrete action of international organizations, legislators and politicians, as well as those committed to a more responsible, coordinated and secure management of situations affecting refugees and migrants in various capacities. Concerning both the Pacts, the Holy See appreciates the intent and the character that facilitates their implementation, despite having expressed reservations about those documents referred to in the Migration Pact, which contain terminologies and guidelines that do not correspond to the principles of life and the rights of people.
Among the others who are weak, "we feel that we are making Our own - continued Paul VI - the voice ... of the young people of the present generations, who rightly dream of a better humanity (Pope Paul VI, Speech to the United Nations, 1). The XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was dedicated to young people, who often feel lost and without certainties for the future. They will also be the protagonists of the apostolic journey that I will undertake in Panama in a few days on the occasion of the XXXIV World Youth Day. Young people are the future, and the task of politics is to open the streets of the future. This is why it is absolutely necessary to invest in initiatives that allow future generations to build a future, having the opportunity to find work, form a family and raise children.
Young people deserve special mention, especially in this year which marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This is a favourable opportunity for serious reflection on the steps taken to watch over the good of our children and their social and intellectual development, as well as their physical, mental and spiritual growth. In this circumstance, I can not keep silent about one of the scourges of our time, which unfortunately also has involved the participation of several members of the clergy. Abuse against minors is one of the worst and most vile crimes possible. Perpetrators inexorably sweep the best of what human life reserves for an innocent young person, causing irreparable damage for the rest of that youngster's existence. The Holy See and the whole Church are working to fight and prevent such crimes and their concealment, to ascertain the truth of the facts in which clergymen are involved and to do justice for the children who have suffered sexual violence, aggravated by abuse of power and of conscience. The meeting I will have with the episcopates of the whole world next month intends to be a further step in the Church's journey to shed light on the facts and to soothe the wounds caused by these crimes.
It is hard to see that in our societies, so often characterized by fragile family contexts, violent behaviour also develops towards women, whose dignity is at the centre of the Apostolic Letter Mulieris dignitatem, published thirty years ago by the Holy Pontiff John Paul II. Faced with the scourge of physical and psychological abuse on women, there is an urgent need to rediscover just and balanced forms of relationships based on mutual respect and recognition, in which everyone can express their identity in an authentic way, while promoting some forms of differentiation and risking distorting the character of a man or a woman.
Attention paid to the weak pushes us to reflect on another scourge of our time, which is the conditions facing workers. If their rights are not adequately protected, work ceases to be the means by which man is fulfilled and becomes a modern form of slavery. One hundred years ago the International Labor Organization was born, a group which has worked to promote adequate working conditions and to increase the dignity of the workers themselves. Faced with the challenges of our time, the growing technological development that subtracts jobs and the loss of economic and social guarantees for workers, I express the hope that the International Labor Organization will continue to be, beyond partial interests, an example of dialogue in order to achieve its high goals. In this mission, she is called to face, with other instances of the international community, the scourge of child labor and new forms of slavery, as well as a progressive decrease in the value of wages, especially in developed countries, and the persistent discrimination of women in working environments.
Being bridges between people and artisans of peace
In his intervention at the United Nations, Saint Paul VI clearly indicated the main objective of that international organization. You - he said - exist and work to unite nations, to connect states; ... to put together with each other ... You are a bridge between the peoples ... Just remember that the blood of millions of men and countless and unheard-of suffering, unnecessary massacres and formidable ruins sanction the pact that unites you, with an oath that must change the future history of the world: no more war, no more war! Peace, peace must guide the fate of the peoples and of all humanity! ... And you know that peace is not built only with politics and with the balance of forces and interests, but with the spirit, with the ideas, with the work of peace (Saint Paul VI, Speech to the United Nations, 3, 5).
During the last year there have been some significant signs of peace, starting with the historic agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which puts an end to twenty years of conflict and restores diplomatic relations between the two countries. Even the agreement signed by the leaders of South Sudan, which allows the resumption of civil coexistence and the reactivation of the functioning of national institutions, is a sign of hope for the African continent, where however there remain serious tensions and widespread poverty. I am following with special attention the evolution of the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, expressing the hope that the country can find the reconciliation that it has long awaited and embark on a decisive path towards development, putting an end to the persistent state of insecurity affecting millions of people, including many children. To this end, respect for the election results is a determining factor for sustainable peace. Likewise, I express my closeness to those who are suffering because of fundamentalist violence, especially in Mali, Niger and Nigeria, or because of the persistent internal tensions in Cameroon which sow death not infrequently among the civilian population.
On the whole, it should also be noted that Africa, beyond several dramatic events, reveals a potential positive dynamism, rooted in its ancient culture and traditional welcome. An example of effective solidarity between nations is the opening of borders in different countries to generously welcome refugees and displaced persons. It is to be appreciated that in many States the peaceful coexistence of believers of different religions is growing and joint common initiatives are encouraged. Furthermore, the implementation of inclusive policies and the progress of democratic processes are giving effective results in many regions to combat absolute poverty and promote social justice. Therefore, the support of the international community becomes even more urgent to favour the development of infrastructures, the construction of perspectives for the younger generations and the emancipation of the weakest sectors.
Positive signs have come from the Korean peninsula. The Holy See looks favourably at the dialogues and hopes that they will be able to address even the most complex issues with a constructive attitude and lead to shared and lasting solutions, so as to ensure a future of development and cooperation for the entire Korean people and for the whole Region.
An analogous wish for the beloved Venezuela is to find institutional and peaceful ways to resolve the political, social and economic crisis, ways that allow first of all those who are tried by the tensions of these years and offer to all the Venezuelan people a horizon of hope and peace.
The Holy See also hopes that dialogue will resume between Israelis and Palestinians, so that we can finally reach an agreement and respond to the legitimate aspirations of both peoples, ensuring the coexistence of two states and the achievement of a long-awaited and desired peace. The concerted effort of the international community is very precious and necessary to achieve this goal, as well as to promote peace in the whole region, particularly in Yemen and Iraq, and at the same time allow the necessary humanitarian aid to the populations in need.
Rethinking our common destiny
Finally, I would like to recall a fourth part of multilateral diplomacy: it invites us to rethink our common destiny. Paul VI had this to say: "We must get used to thinking ... in a new way about the coexistence of humanity, in a new way about the paths of history and the destinies of the world ... It is the hour in which ... to rethink, that is, to our common origin, to our history, to our common destiny. Never before today, in an era of so much human progress, has it become necessary to appeal to the moral conscience of man! The danger comes neither from progress nor from science ... The real danger lies in man, master of ever more powerful instruments, acts of ruin and the highest conquests! (Saint Paul VI, Speech to the United Nations, 7).
In the context of the time, the Pope referred essentially to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. "The weapons, he said, especially the terrible ones that modern science has given us, even before producing victims and ruins, generate bad dreams, feed bad feelings, create nightmares, distrust and sad intentions, demand enormous expenses, arrest projects of solidarity and useful work, distort the psychology of the peoples (Saint Paul VI, Speech to the United Nations, 5)
Unfortunately, it is regrettable to note that not only the arms market does not seem to suffer setbacks, but rather that there is an increasingly widespread tendency to arm themselves, both on the part of individuals and on the part of the States. We are especially concerned that nuclear disarmament, widely desired and partly pursued in past decades, is now giving way to new and increasingly sophisticated and destructive weapons. Here I intend to reiterate that "we can not but feel a strong sense of disquiet if we consider the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences that derive from any use of nuclear devices. Therefore, even considering the risk of an accidental detonation of such weapons for an error of any kind, it is to be firmly condemned the threat of their use - I would say the immorality of their use - as well as their own possession, precisely because their existence is functional to a logic of fear that does not concern only the parties in conflict, but the entire human race. International relations can not be dominated by military force, by mutual intimidation, by the ostentation of war arsenals. Weapons of mass destruction, particularly atomic weapons, are nothing but a deceptive sense of security and can not be the basis of peaceful coexistence among the members of the human family, which must instead be inspired by an ethic of solidarity (Speech to participants taking part in the International Symposium on Disarmament organized by the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, 10 November 2017).
Rethinking our common destiny in the current context also means rethinking our relationship with our planet. Also this year unspeakable hardships and suffering caused by flooding, fires, earthquakes and droughts have hit the populations of various regions of the American continent and Southeast Asia. Environmental issues and climate change are therefore among the issues on which it is particularly urgent to find an agreement within the international community. In this regard, also in light of the consensus reached at the recent International Climate Conference (COP-24) held in Katowice, I hope for a more decisive commitment by the States to strengthen the collaboration in urgently tackling the worrying phenomenon of global warming. The Earth belongs to everyone and the consequences of its exploitation fall on the entire world population, with more dramatic effects in some regions than in others. Among these there is the Amazon, which will be the focus of the next Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops scheduled to take place at the Vatican in October of this year; while dealing mainly with the paths of evangelization for the people of God, this Assembly will also not fail to address the environmental problems in close relationship with their related social consequences.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On November 9, 1989 the Berlin Wall fell. From that point, a few months would put an end to the last legacy of the Second World War: the lacerating division of Europe decided upon in Yalta and the ensuing Cold War. The countries to the east of the Iron Curtain regained their freedom after decades of oppression and many of them began to walk along the road that would lead them to join the European Union. In the current context, new centrifugal thrusts prevail and the temptation to build new curtains, the awareness of the benefits - first of all peace - in the path of friendship and rapprochement between the peoples undertaken after World War II are not lost in Europe.
There is one last anniversary which I would like to mention today. The Vatican City State was born on February 11, ninety years ago, following the signing of the Lateran Agreement between the Holy See and Italy. Thus ended the long period of the Roman question followed by the capture of Rome and the end of the Papal States. With the Lateran Treaty the Holy See could dispose of "so much material territory which is indispensable for the exercise of a spiritual power entrusted to men for the benefit of men (Pius XI, Speech entitled Our most cordial addressed to the Pastors of Rome and the Preachers of the Lenten period on the occasion of the signing of the Treaty and the Concordat inside the Lateran Palace, 11 February 1929), as Pius XI affirmed, and with that Concordat the Church could once again contribute fully to the spiritual and material growth of Rome and of all of Italy, a land rich in history, art and culture, which Christianity has helped to forge. On this occasion, I assure the Italian people of a special prayer so that, in fidelity to their traditions, we may keep alive the spirit of fraternal solidarity that has long distinguished them.
To all of you, dear Ambassadors and distinguished guests gathered here, and to your respective countries, I offer my cordial greetings that this new year may permit us to strengthen the bonds of friendship which bind us and to strive together to build the peace to which the world aspires.
Thank you!
(Original text in Italian)
There are 183 States that currently have diplomatic relations with the Holy See. The European Union and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta must also be added to these States. There are 89 Embassy Chancelleries based in Rome, including those of the European Union and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. The offices of the League of Arab States, of the International Organization for Migration and of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees are also based in Rome.
During the year 2018, on June 26, the Agreement for the teaching of the Catholic Religion in public schools between the Holy See and the Republic of San Marino was signed; it was ratified on the following 1st October. On 23 August 2018 the Framework Agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Benin concerning the Statute of the Catholic Church in Benin was ratified. On September 22, 2018, the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China was signed concerning the appointment of Bishops in China. Furthermore, on 16 July 2018 the Holy See deposited the instrument of ratification of the UNESCO Regional Convention concerning the recognition of higher education qualifications in Asia and the Pacific, while on March 21, 2018, it joined the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Itineraries Cultural Council of Europe. On 30 November 2018, the Vatican City State was admitted to the Single Area for payments in Euro (SEPA).
(Original text in Italian)
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