"Nor can we overlook the fact that wars involve another horrendous crime, the crime of rape. This is a most grave offence against the dignity of women, who are not only violated in body but also in spirit, resulting in a trauma hard to
erase and with effects on society as well. Sadly, even apart from situations of
war, all too many women even today are victims of violence.
"Every conflict and war is emblematic of the throwaway culture, since people's
lives are deliberately crushed by those in power. Yet that culture is also fuelled by more subtle and insidious forms of rejection. I think in the first place of the way the sick are treated; often they are cast aside and marginalised like the lepers in the Gospel. Among the lepers of our own day we can count the victims of the new and terrible outbreak of Ebola which, especially in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, has already taken over six thousand lives. Today I wish publicly to praise and thank those healthcare workers who, alongside men and women religious and volunteers, are caring in every way possible for the sick and their families, especially orphaned children. At the same time I renew my appeal to the entire international community to provide adequate humanitarian assistance to patients and to make concerted efforts to combat the disease.
"Together with lives thrown away because of war and disease, there are those of numerous refugees and displaced persons. Once again, the reality can be appreciated by reflecting on the childhood of Jesus, which sheds light on another form of the throwaway culture which harms relationships and causes the breakdown of society. Indeed, because of Herod's brutality, the Holy Family was
forced to flee to Egypt, and was only able to return several years later. One consequence of the situations of conflict just described is the flight of thousands of persons from their homeland. At times they leave not so much in search of a better future, but any future at all, since remaining at home can mean certain death. How many persons lose their lives during these cruel journeys, the victims of unscrupulous and greedy thugs? I raised this issue during my recent visit to the European Parliament, where I insisted that 'we cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a vast cemetery'. Then too there is the alarming fact that many immigrants, especially in the Americas, are unaccompanied children, all the more at risk and in need of greater care, attention and protection.
"Often coming without documents to strange lands whose language they do not speak, migrants find it difficult to be accepted and to find work. In addition to the uncertainties of their flight, they have to face the drama of rejection.
A change of attitude is needed on our part, moving from indifference and fear to genuine acceptance of others. This of course calls for 'enacting adequate legislation to protect the rights of... citizens and to ensure the acceptance of immigrants'. I thank all those who, even at the cost of their lives, are working to assist refugees and immigrants, and I urge states and international organisations to make every effort to resolve these grave humanitarian problems
and to provide the immigrants' countries of origin with forms of aid which can help promote their social and political development and settle their internal conflicts, which are the chief cause of this phenomenon. 'We need to take action against the causes and not only the effects'. This will also enable immigrants to return at some point to their own country and to contribute to its growth and development.
"Together with immigrants, displaced people and refugees, there are many other
'hidden exiles' living in our homes and in our families. I think especially of the elderly, the handicapped and young people. The elderly encounter rejection when they are considered a 'burdensome presence', while the young are thrown away when they are denied concrete prospects of employment to build their future. Indeed, there is no poverty worse than that which takes away work and the dignity of work, or which turns work into a form of enslavement. This is what I sought to stress during my recent meeting with popular movements working
to finding adequate solutions to some of today's problems, including the scourge of rising unemployment among the young, illegal labour, and the dramatic situation of so many workers, especially children, who are exploited out of greed. All this is contrary to human dignity and the fruit of a mentality which is centred on money, benefits and economic profit, to the detriment of our fellow man.
"Then too, the family itself is not infrequently considered disposable, thanks
to the spread of an individualistic and self-centred culture which severs human
bonds and leads to a dramatic fall in birth rates, as well as legislation which
benefits various forms of cohabitation rather than adequately supporting the family for the welfare of society as a whole.
"Among the causes of these realities is a model of globalisation which levels out differences and even discards cultures, cutting them off from those factors
which shape each people's identity and constitute a legacy essential to their sound social development. In a drab, anonymous world, it is easy to understand the difficulties and the discouragement felt by many people who have literally lost the sense of being alive. This tragic situation is aggravated by the continuing economic crisis, which fosters pessimism and social conflict. I have
been able to see its effects here in Rome, where I meet many people in trying situations, and in the various journeys I have made in Italy.
"To the beloved Italian nation, then, I would like to express my hope that in the continuing climate of social, political and economic uncertainty the Italian people will not yield to apathy or dissension, but will rediscover those values of shared concern and solidarity which are at the basis of their culture and civic life, and are a reason for confidence both now and in the future, especially for the young.
"Speaking of the young, I wish to mention my journey to Korea, where last August I met thousands of young people assembled for the Sixth Asian Youth Day.
There I spoke of the need to treasure our young, 'seeking to pass on the legacy
of the past and to apply it to the challenges of the present'. This demands that we reflect on 'how well we are transmitting our values to the next generation and on the kind of world and society we are preparing to hand on to them'.
"This evening I will have the joy of setting off once more for Asia, to visit Sri Lanka and the Philippines as a sign of my interest and pastoral concern for
the people of that vast continent. To them and to their governments I wish to voice yet again the desire of the Holy See to offer its own contribution of service to the common good, to harmony and social concord. In particular, I express my hope for a resumption of dialogue between the two Koreas, sister countries which speak the same language.
"Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, at the beginning of a new year, though, we do not wish our outlook to be dominated by pessimism, or the defects
and deficiencies of the present time. We also want to thank God for the gifts and blessings he has bestowed upon us, for the occasions of dialogue and encounter which he has granted us, and for the fruits of peace which he has enabled us to savour.
"I experienced an eloquent sign that the culture of encounter is possible during my visit to Albania, a nation full of young people who represent hope for the future. Despite the painful events of its recent history, the country is marked by the 'peaceful coexistence and collaboration that exists among followers of different religions', in an atmosphere of respect and mutual trust
between Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims. This is an important sign that sincere
faith in God makes one open to others, generates dialogue and works for the good, whereas violence is always the product of a falsification of religion, its use as a pretext for ideological schemes whose only goal is power over others. Similarly, in my recent journey to Turkey, a historic bridge between East and West, I was able to see the fruits of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, as well as efforts made to assist refugees from other countries of the Middle East. I also encountered this spirit of openness in Jordan, which I visited at the beginning of my pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and in the testimonies which come from Lebanon, a country which I pray will overcome its current political problems.
"One example close to my heart of how dialogue can build bridges comes from the recent decision of the United States of America and Cuba to end a lack of communication which has endured for more than half a century, and to initiate a
rapprochement for the benefit of their respective citizens. Here I think too of
the people of Burkina Faso, who are experiencing a period of significant political and institutional change, with the hope that a renewed spirit of cooperation will contribute to the growth of a more just and fraternal society.
I also note with pleasure that last March an agreement was signed to end long years of tension in the Philippines. I wish to encourage the efforts made to ensure a stable peace in Colombia, as well as the initiatives taken to restore political and social harmony in Venezuela. At the same time, I express my hope that a definitive agreement may soon be reached between Iran and the 5+1 Group regarding the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and my appreciation of the efforts already made in this regard. I note with satisfaction the intention of the United States to close the Guantanamo detention facilities, while acknowledging the generous willingness of several countries to receive the detainees. I heartily thank those countries. Finally, I would like to express my appreciation and encouragement to those countries actively engaged in promoting human development, political stability and civil coexistence between their citizens.
"Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, on 6 August 1945, humanity witnessed
one of the most horrendous catastrophes in its history. For the first time, in a new and unprecedented way, the world experienced the full potential of man's destructive power. From the ashes of that immense tragedy which was the Second World War, there arose among the nations a new will for dialogue and encounter which inspired the United Nations Organisation, whose seventieth anniversary we
will celebrate this year. In his visit to the UN headquarters fifty years ago, my predecessor, Pope Paul VI, noted that 'the blood of millions, countless unheard-of sufferings, useless massacres and frightening ruins have sanctioned the agreement that unites you with an oath that ought to change the future of the world: never again war, never again war! It is peace, peace, that has to guide the destiny of the nations of all mankind'.
"This is likewise my own hope-filled prayer for this new year, which, for that
matter, will see the continuation of two significant processes: the drawing up of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, with the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals, and the drafting of a new Climate Change Agreement. The latter is urgently needed. The indispensable presupposition of all these is peace, which, even more than an end to all wars, is the fruit of heartfelt conversion. With these sentiments, I once more offer to each of you, to your families and your peoples, my prayerful good wishes that this new year of 2015 will be one of hope and peace".

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The Pope baptises thirty-three infants in the Sistine Chapel

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Stadler, the first archbishop of Sarajevo. A priest, a Franciscan friar and a nun then spoke about the suffering and persecutions they had experienced during the war in the Balkans.
The Pope, moved by their words, set aside the discourse he had prepared - extensive extracts of which we publish below - and addressed some off-the-cuff comments to them. "These accounts speak for themselves", he said. "And this is the memory of your people! A people that forgets the past has no future. This is
the memory of your fathers and mothers in the faith: only three people have spoken, but behind them there are many, many others who suffered the same things".
"Dear sisters, dear brothers, you do not have the right to forget your own history. Not for the purpose of revenge, but rather to make peace. Not to look at these testimonies as something odd, but through them to love as they have loved. In your blood, in your vocation, there is the vocation and the blood of these three martyrs. And it is the blood and the vocation of many religious women and men, many priests, many seminarians. ... Keeping memory alive so as to
make peace. Some words struck my heart. One of them, repeated, 'forgiveness'. A man, a woman who is consecrated to the Lord's service who does not know how to forgive, is not helpful. To forgive a friend who swore at you, or someone with whom you have argued, or a sister who is jealous of you, this is not all that difficult. But to forgive the one who slaps you in the face, who tortures you, who abuses you, who threatens to shoot you ... this is difficult. And these three
have done it, and they teach others to do it".
"You are blessed who have such witnesses so close to you: do not forget them, please. Your life will grow with this memory. ... Finally, I wish to say to you that this has been a story of cruelty. Even today, in this world war we see many, many, many acts of cruelty. Do always the opposite of cruelty: have an attitude of tenderness, of brotherhood, of forgiveness. And carry the Cross of Jesus Christ. The Church, holy Mother Church, wants it this way: small, tiny martyrdoms, before these small martyrs, these small witnesses to the Cross of Jesus".
The following is the address Pope Francis had prepared:
"I come to your land as a pilgrim of peace and dialogue, to strengthen and to encourage my brothers and sisters in the faith, and in particular you, who are called to work 'full time' in the vineyard of the Lord. He says to us, 'I am with you always, to the close of the age'. This certainty fills us with consolation and hope, especially when your ministry experiences difficulties. I think of the sufferings and trials both past and present in your Christian communities. Although you have lived through these circumstances, you did not halt, you endured, and worked hard to confront personal, social and pastoral challenges with a tireless spirit of service. May the Lord bless your efforts.
"I can imagine that the Catholic Church's being numerically a minority in your country, coupled with the failures that sometime occur in ministry, may at times
make you feel like Jesus' disciples when, although having toiled all night long,
they caught no fish. However, it is precisely in these moments, if we entrust ourselves to the Lord, that we experience the power of His word, the strength of
His Spirit, which renews trust and hope in us. The fruitfulness of our service depends above all on faith: faith in Christ's love, from which, as St. Paul reminds us, and which he know from experience, nothing can separate us! Fraternity within our communities also sustains and strengthens us: fraternity among priests, among men and women religious, among consecrated lay persons, among seminarians. In fact, fraternity among all of us, whom the Lord has called
to leave everything so as to follow Him, gives us joy and consolation, and renders our work ever more fruitful. We are witnesses to fraternity!
"'Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock'. With these words - recorded in
the Acts of the Apostles - St. Paul reminds us that if we want to help others become holy we cannot neglect ourselves, that is, neglect our own sanctification. And vice versa: dedication to God's faithful people, being close
to them in their lives, especially to the poor and the needy, helps us be conformed ever more to Christ. Attention to one's own sanctification and pastoral charity towards people are two sides of the same coin and are mutually enriching. They must never be separated.
"What does it mean, today, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for a priest or consecrated person to serve the Lord's flock?", asked the Holy Father. "I think it means to carry out a pastoral ministry of hope, caring for the sheep that are
in the sheepfold, but also going out in search of those who await the Good News and who do not know where to find it, or who on their own cannot find their way to Jesus. It means to meet the people where they live, including those sheep who
are outside the sheepfold, far away, who may not yet have heard of Jesus Christ.
It means taking care of the formation of Catholics in their faith and in their Christian lives. Encouraging the lay faithful to be protagonists in the evangelising mission of the Church. For this reason, I exhort you to develop Catholic communities open and 'going forth', able to welcome and to encounter, and to be courageous in their evangelical witness.
"The priest, the consecrated person, is called to live the anguish and the hope
of the people; to work in concrete circumstances often characterised by tensions, discord, suspicions, insecurities and poverty. Faced with these painful situations, we ask God to grant us hearts that can be moved, capable of showing empathy; there is no greater witness than to be close to the spiritual and material needs of the faithful. It is the task of us bishops, priests and religious to make the people feel the nearness of God; to feel His comforting and healing hand; to be familiar with the wounds and tears of our people; to never tire of opening our hearts and offering a hand to all who ask us for help,
and to all those who, perhaps because they feel ashamed, do not ask our help, but who are in great need of it. In this regard, I wish to express my deep appreciation to religious sisters for everything they do with such generosity, and above all for their faithful and dedicated presence.
"Dear priests, dear men and women religious, I encourage you to carry out joyfully your pastoral ministry whose effectiveness is the fruit of faith and grace, but also the fruit of a humble life, one detached from worldly concerns. Please, do not fall into the temptation of becoming a self-absorbed elite. The generous and transparent witness of priestly and religious life sets an example and gives encouragement to seminarians and to all those whom the Lord calls to serve Him. Standing by the side of young men and women, inviting them to share experiences of service and prayer, you will help them to discover the love of Christ and to open themselves up to the call of the Lord. May the People of God see in you that faithful and generous love which Christ has left to His disciples as a legacy.
"I wish also to offer a word to you, dear seminarians. Among the many beautiful
examples of priests and consecrated men in your country, we remember in particular the Servant of God Petar Barbaric. His example unites Herzegovina, where he was born, to Bosnia, where he made his religious profession, as he also
unites all priests, diocesan or religious. May this young candidate for the priesthood, whose life was so full of virtue, be a powerful example to each one of you.
The Virgin Mary is always near us, as a caring mother. She is the first disciple of the Lord, the first example of a life dedicated to him and to his brothers. When we find ourselves in difficulty, or when faced with a situation that makes us feel the depth of our powerlessness, let us turn to her with childlike trust. Then she always says to us - as at the wedding at Cana - 'Do whatever he tells you'. She teaches us to listen to Jesus and to follow His word, but to do so with faith! This is her secret, which as a mother, she wishes
to transmit to us: faith, a genuine faith, enough so that even a grain of it can
move mountains!
"By abandoning ourselves in trust, we can serve the Lord with joy, sowing hope everywhere. I assure you of remembrance in my prayers and I bless each of you and your communities. I ask you please, do not forget to pray for me", concluded
Francis, before imparting his final blessing.

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Ecumenical and interreligious meeting: dialogue cannot be confined to the leaders of religious communities
Vatican City, 6 June 2015 (VIS) - "Today's meeting is a sign of our shared desire for fraternity and peace; it is a testimony to the friendship and cooperation that has been developing over the years and which you already experience daily. To be present here today is already a 'message' of that dialogue which everyone seeks and strives for", said Pope Francis to the participants in the ecumenical and interreligious meeting held in the Franciscan
international study centre of Sarajevo.
The leaders of the Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic and Jewish communities of Bosnia and Herzegovina greeted the Holy Father, who recalled one of the fruits of this desire for encounter and reconciliation - the establishment in 1997 of a local Council for Interreligious Dialogue, bringing together Muslims, Christians and Jews - and congratulated them on their work in promoting dialogue, coordinating common initiatives and developing relations with State authorities. "Your work in this region is immensely important, particularly in Sarajevo, which stands as
the crossroads of peoples and cultures", he said. "Here, on the one hand, diversity constitutes a great resource which has contributed to the social, cultural and spiritual development of this region, while, on the other, it has also been the cause of painful rifts and bloody wars. It is not by chance that the birth of the Council for Interreligious Dialogue and other valuable initiatives in the area of interreligious and ecumenical work came about at the end of the war, in response to the need for reconciliation and rebuilding a society torn apart by conflict. Interreligious dialogue here, as in every part of the world, is an indispensable condition for peace, and for this reason is a duty for all believers".
Francis underlined that interreligious dialogue, before being a discussion of the main themes of faith, is a "conversation about human existence". "This conversation shares the experiences of daily life in all its concreteness, with its joys and sufferings, its struggles and hopes; it takes on shared responsibilities; it plans a better future for all. We learn to live together, respecting each other's differences freely; we know and accept one another's identity. Through dialogue, a spirit of fraternity is recognised and developed,

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