Pope asks for "worldwide disarmament" in 'Day of Peace'

Pope Francis asked for the abolishment and destruction of all nuclear weapons

 VATICAN CITY -- In a speech released by the Vatican for the Day of Peace in January 2017 (Giornata della Pace), Pope Francis asks for nuclear weapons to be ‘abolished’ and for the world to become disarmed in a moving plea for global harmony.

 The pontiff makes “an appeal in favour of disarmament, as well as for the prohibition and abolishment of nuclear arms,” reinstating that the threat of destruction cannot be ethically justified. "Can violence achieve any goal of lasting value? Or does it merely lead to retaliation and a cycle of deadly conflicts that benefit only a few 'warlords'?" the pope asks.

 “With equal urgency,” Pope Francis continues, “I ask for domestic violence and the abuse of women to stop immediately,” promoting fraternity amongst all, based upon respect and sincere dialogue.

 "Violence is not the cure for our broken world. Countering violence with violence leads at best to forced migrations and enormous suffering, because vast amounts of resources are diverted to military ends and away from the everyday needs of young people, families experiencing hardship, the elderly, the infirm and the great majority of people in our world. At worst, it can lead to the death, physical and spiritual, of many people, if not all," the Holy Father continues.

 “Building peace through active non-violence” is the “programme” and “challenge” which the head of the Roman Catholic Church points to “political and religious leaders, heads of international institutions, business leaders and the global media,” calling on the world to “endure the current conflict, resolve it” and turn to “a new process.”

 Referring to famous pacifist icons, such as Mother Theresa, Gandhi and Martin Luther King, the head of the Holy See states, “Non-violence, practiced with determination and consistency, has produced impressive results.”

 The pontiff wrote a letter to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and the Syrian government agency Sana publicised some extracts, stating, “The pope expresses solidarity with the Syrian people,” just as the Vatican “condemns all forms of extremism and terrorism.” The pope asked the President to “multiply the efforts of all to end the war in Syria and restore peace.”

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