Pope Francis reiterated that the Jubilee should be an opportunity to cancel debts, especially those weighing on the poorest countries. He underlined that God awaits each of us, in particular the most fragile: children who suffer from war and hunger, the elderly often forced to live in solitude and abandonment, those who have lost their homes or flee their homeland in seek refuge, those who have lost or cannot find a job, prisoners who always remain children of God and those who are persecuted for their faith. Every life is sacred, he added.
In the Urbi et Orbi message, the Pontiff addressed a thought to the African continent, afflicted by health emergencies and conflicts. He expressed hope that the birth of the Savior will bring hope to the families of children who are dying from a measles epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as to the populations of the east of the country, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and of Mozambique.
He highlighted that the humanitarian crisis is mainly caused by armed conflicts and terrorism, exacerbated by the devastating effects of climate change, resulting in the loss of life and displacement of millions of people. He implored peace, harmony and brotherhood for the populations of the Horn of Africa and invoked the commitment of the international community in promoting access to humanitarian aid for the civilian population of Sudan and in starting new negotiations for a ceasefire.
The Pope then called attention to a conflict forgotten by the West, that of Myanmar, hoping that the announcement of Christmas will bring comfort to the inhabitants of the country, who suffer due to continuous armed clashes and are forced to flee their homes .
Finally, he spoke about the American continent, asking for effective solutions in truth and justice to promote social harmony, in particular in Haiti, Venezuela, Colombia and Nicaragua, and urged us to build the common good and rediscover the dignity of every person , overcoming political divisions.
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