Pope Francis, the 85-year-old pontiff, has lamented the lack of relationship among the international family of nations.

He noted the need for dialogue to bring healing and resolve conflicts within the international space.

In his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message delivered on Saturday, Christmas Day, the head of the Catholic Church called on individuals and world leaders to be more engaged.

He cited the worsened coronavirus pandemic and the pain it has caused around the world.

“Our capacity for social relationships is sorely tried; there is a growing tendency to withdraw, to do it all by ourselves, to stop making an effort to encounter others and do things together,” Francis said.

“On the international level too, there is the risk of avoiding dialogue, the risk that this complex crisis will lead to taking shortcuts rather than setting out on the longer paths of dialogue. Yet only those paths can lead to the resolution of conflicts and to lasting benefits for all,” he added.

The Pope highlighted the conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Israel, Palestine, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Sudan, South Sudan, and elsewhere.

“We continue to witness a great number of conflicts, crises, and disagreements,” he said.

“These never seem to end, by now we hardly even notice them. We have become so used to them that immense tragedies are now being passed over in silence; we risk not hearing the cry of pain and distress of so many of our brothers and sisters,” he said.

Readers Bureau, Contributor

Edited by Jesus Chan

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