Pope Francis urges eradication of corruption, crime

    
Pope Francis on Wednesday in Rome called on nations to ensure the eradication of many forms of corruption and crime.

Francis made the call in his 2014 message, available on the Vatican Ecumenical News website, as Christians celebrated the World Day of Peace.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the theme of his message was “Fraternity: the Foundation and Pathway to Peace”.

In the message, he said: “Christians, as children of God, will be held accountable for their actions towards their brothers and sisters who suffer from poverty, conflicts, trafficking or corruption.

“In the heart of every man and woman is the desire for a full life, including that irrepressible longing for fraternity which draws us to fellowship with others.

“It enables us to see them not as enemies or rivals, but as brothers and sisters to be accepted and embraced.”

The Pope said fraternity was an essential human quality, saying “we are relational beings.

“A lively awareness of our relatedness helps us to look upon and to treat each person as a true sister or brother. Without fraternity, it is impossible to build a just society and a solid and lasting peace.”

He appealed to those involved in the use of weapons to exploit dialogue and peace, calling for an end to the use of nuclear and chemical weapons in the world.

“To all those who saw violence and death by force of arms: in the person you today see simply as an enemy to be beaten, discover rather your brother or sister, and hold back your hand.

“Give up the way of arms and go out to meet the other in dialogue, pardon and reconciliation, in order to rebuild justice, trust, and hope around you.

“It is clear that, for the world’s peoples, armed conflicts are always a deliberate negation of international harmony, and create profound divisions and deep wounds which require many years to heal,” the Pope added.

The pontiff also harped on the need to overcome attitudes of possession, manipulation and exploitation to ensure justice, equality and an end to the scandal of people dying of hunger.

In his sermon at the Mass to celebrate the World Day of Peace, Rev. Fr. Jude Nwigwe urged Christians to depend on God as the only source of peace.

Nwigwe, who is the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Gwarinpa in Abuja, said science and technology cannot give peace to the world.

“In spite of all the advancement in technology, the world doesn’t have peace.

“Science too cannot give peace. It is only God that can give peace to the world. So, we need to follow His instructions for the world to enjoy peace,” he said.

NAN reports that the World Day of Peace is celebrated on Jan. 1 of every year.

NAN