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Pope Francis urges people to overcome indifference to suffering Pope Francis urges people to overcome indifference to suffering
(35 minutes later)
Pope Francis has urged people to combat the “torrent” of misery, injustice and violence in the world by overcoming all indifference to the many who are suffering.Pope Francis has urged people to combat the “torrent” of misery, injustice and violence in the world by overcoming all indifference to the many who are suffering.
Security was tight for the pontiff’s first address of the new year on Friday, with police checking the bags of people blocks away from St Peter’s Square and about 10,000 people passing through airport-style screening to get into St Peter’s Basilica and hear him celebrate mass.Security was tight for the pontiff’s first address of the new year on Friday, with police checking the bags of people blocks away from St Peter’s Square and about 10,000 people passing through airport-style screening to get into St Peter’s Basilica and hear him celebrate mass.
“We ask how long human evil will continue to sow violence and hatred in our world, reaping innocent victims … we are witnessing hordes of men, women and children fleeing war, hunger and persecution, ready to risk their lives simply to encounter respect for their fundamental rights,” the pope said.“We ask how long human evil will continue to sow violence and hatred in our world, reaping innocent victims … we are witnessing hordes of men, women and children fleeing war, hunger and persecution, ready to risk their lives simply to encounter respect for their fundamental rights,” the pope said.
Francis cited no specific country, continent or conflict, but his words clearly evoked images of the million and more refugees and migrants who risked dangerous journeys by sea or overland to reach Europe from Africa, the Middle East and Asia in 2015.Francis cited no specific country, continent or conflict, but his words clearly evoked images of the million and more refugees and migrants who risked dangerous journeys by sea or overland to reach Europe from Africa, the Middle East and Asia in 2015.
Related: Guardian and Observer charity appeal for refugees tops £2mRelated: Guardian and Observer charity appeal for refugees tops £2m
In his homily Francis urged people to overcome what he called “a torrent of misery” by “building an ever more just and fraternal world, a world in which every person and every creature can dwell in peace, in the harmony of God’s original creation”.In his homily Francis urged people to overcome what he called “a torrent of misery” by “building an ever more just and fraternal world, a world in which every person and every creature can dwell in peace, in the harmony of God’s original creation”.
The 79-year-old pope looked and sounded well despite having made many public appearances over the Christmas and New Year period. The 79-year-old pope looked and sounded well despite having made many public appearances over the Christmas and new year period.
As the Catholic church, which has 1.2 billion members, marks its annual World Day of Peace, he called on everyone to “let ourselves be reborn, to overcome the indifference which blocks solidarity, and to leave behind the false neutrality which prevents sharing”.As the Catholic church, which has 1.2 billion members, marks its annual World Day of Peace, he called on everyone to “let ourselves be reborn, to overcome the indifference which blocks solidarity, and to leave behind the false neutrality which prevents sharing”.