Pope Francis to Leaders "...convert death into life, weapons into food" at Forum to «Rebuild the World Back Better» - FULL TEXT + Video

Pope Francis sent a video-message to participants in the 16th edition of the GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum - here political leaders and ministers discuss the rebuilding the post-pandemic world. The theme of the 2021 GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum is “Rebuild the World Back Better”. 

VIDEO MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS

 ON THE OCCASION OF THE 16th EDITION OF THE GLOBSEC BRATISLAVA FORUM

(June 15-17, 2021)

Mr. President ,

thank you for your kind invitation to participate, through this video message, in the 16th edition of the GLOBSEC  Bratislava Forum , dedicated to the theme: « Rebuild the World Back Better ».

I greet you, all the organizers and participants of this conference. I would like to express my gratitude for the platform that the  Bratislava Forum  offers to the important debate on the reconstruction of our world after the experience of the pandemic, which forces us to confront a series of serious socio-economic, ecological and political issues, all between related to them.

In this regard, I would like to offer you some ideas, taking inspiration from the method of the trinomial  see - judge - act .

To see

A serious and honest analysis of the past, which includes the recognition of the systemic deficiencies, the mistakes made and the lack of responsibility towards the Creator, neighbor and creation, seems to me essential to develop an idea of ​​recovery that aims not only at rebuild what was there, but to correct what was not working before the advent of the Coronavirus and which contributed to aggravate the crisis. Whoever wants to get up from a fall must confront the circumstances of his own collapse and recognize the elements of responsibility.

 

 I see, therefore, a world that has been deceived by an illusory sense of security based on the hunger for gain.

I see a model of economic and social life, characterized by so many inequalities and selfishness, in which a small minority of the world population owns the majority of assets, often not hesitating to exploit people and resources.

I see a lifestyle that doesn't care enough for the environment. We are accustomed to consuming and destroying without restraint what belongs to everyone and must be safeguarded with respect, creating an "ecological debt" to be borne above all by the poor and future generations.

To judge

The second step is to evaluate what has been seen. In greeting my collaborators of the Roman Curia on the occasion of last Christmas, I made a brief reflection on the meaning of the crisis. The crisis opens up new possibilities: it is in fact an open challenge to face the current situation, to transform the time of trial into a time of choice. A crisis, in fact, forces you to choose, for good or for evil. From a crisis, as I have already repeated, you do not come out the same: either you come out better or you come out worse. But never the same.

Judging what we have seen and experienced encourages us to improve. Let's take advantage of this time to take steps forward. The crisis that has hit everyone reminds us that no one is saved alone. The crisis opens the way for us to a future that recognizes the true equality of every human being: not an abstract equality, but a concrete one, which offers people and peoples fair and real opportunities for development.

Act

Those who do not act waste the opportunities offered by the crisis. Acting in the face of social injustices and marginalization requires a development model that places "every man and the whole man" at the center "as the fundamental pillar to respect and protect, adopting a methodology that includes the ethics of solidarity and “political charity” ”( Message to the Director of UNESCO , Ms Audrey Azoulay , 24 March 2021).

Every action needs a vision, a vision that is  as a whole  and  of hope : a vision like that of the biblical prophet Isaiah, who saw swords turning into plows, spears into sickles (cf.  Is 2:  4). To act for the development of all is to carry out a work of conversion. And above all decisions that convert death into life, weapons into food.

But we all need to undertake an ecological conversion as well. In fact, the overall vision includes the perspective of a creation understood as a "common home" and urgently requires action to protect it.

Dear friends, animated by the hope that comes from God, I hope that your exchanges these days will contribute to a model of recovery capable of generating more inclusive and sustainable solutions; a development model based on peaceful coexistence between peoples and harmony with creation. Good work, and thank you!

 FULL TEXT Source: Vatican.va