Fwd: [sudans-john-ashworth] Pope Francis raises South Sudan with G20

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Jul 10, 2017, 8:24:21 AM7/10/17
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From: "John Ashworth" <ashwor...@gmail.com>
Date: 10 Jul 2017 07:34
Subject: [sudans-john-ashworth] Pope Francis raises South Sudan with G20
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Pope Francis: Message to G20

German Chancellor Angela Merkel stands as she waits for participants
to arrive for the G20 leaders summit in Hamburg, Germany July 7, 2017
- REUTERS

07/07/2017 12:02

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a Message to the participants in
the G20 meeting taking place in Germany July 7-8. The Message is
addressed to the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, and details
what the Holy Father recognizes as four principles of action for the
building of fraternal, just and peaceful societies: time is greater
than space; unity prevails over conflict; realities are more important
than ideas; and the whole is greater than the part.

Please find the full text of Pope Francis’ Message, in its official
English translation, below…

*********************************

To Her Excellency
Mrs Angela Merkel
Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany

Following our recent meeting in the Vatican, and in response to your
thoughtful request, I would like to offer some considerations that,
together with all the Pastors of the Catholic Church, I consider
important in view of the forthcoming meeting of the G20, which will
gather Heads of State and of Government of the Group of major world
economies and the highest authorities of the European Union.  In doing
so, I follow a tradition begun by Pope Benedict XVI in April 2009 on
the occasion of the London G20.  My Predecessor likewise wrote to Your
Excellency in 2006, when Germany held the presidency of the European
Union and the G8.

In the first place, I wish to express to you, and to the leaders
assembled in Hamburg, my appreciation for the efforts being made to
ensure the governability and stability of the world economy,
especially with regard to financial markets, trade, fiscal problems
and, more generally, a more inclusive and sustainable global economic
growth (cf. G20 Leaders Communiqué, Hangzhou Summit, 5 September
2016).  As is evident from the Summit’s programme, such efforts are
inseparable from the need to address ongoing conflicts and the
worldwide problem of migrations.

In my Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, the programmatic
document of my Pontificate addressed to the Catholic faithful, I
proposed four principles of action for the building of fraternal, just
and peaceful societies: time is greater than space; unity prevails
over conflict; realities are more important than ideas; and the whole
is greater than the part.  These lines of action are evidently part of
the age-old wisdom of all humanity; I believe that they can also serve
as an aid to reflection for the Hamburg meeting and for the assessment
of its outcome.

Time is greater than space.  The gravity, complexity and
interconnection of world problems is such that there can be no
immediate and completely satisfying solutions. Sadly, the migration
crisis, which is inseparable from the issue of poverty and exacerbated
by armed conflicts, is proof of this.  It is possible, though, to set
in motion processes that can offer solutions that are progressive and
not traumatic, and which can lead in relatively short order to free
circulation and to a settlement of persons that would be to the
advantage of all.  Nonetheless, this tension between space and time,
between limit and fullness, requires an exactly contrary movement in
the minds of government leaders and the powerful.  An effective
solution, necessarily spread over time, will be possible only if the
final objective of the process is clearly present in its planning.  In
the minds and hearts of government leaders, and at every phase of the
enactment of political measures, there is a need to give absolute
priority to the poor, refugees, the suffering, evacuees and the
excluded, without distinction of nation, race, religion or culture,
and to reject armed conflicts.

At this point, I cannot fail to address to the Heads of State and of
Government of the G20, and to the entire world community, a heartfelt
appeal for the tragic situation in South Sudan, the Lake Chad basin,
the Horn of Africa and Yemen, where thirty million people are lacking
the food and water needed to survive.  A commitment to meet these
situations with urgency and to provide immediately support to those
peoples will be a sign of the seriousness and sincerity of the
mid-term commitment to reforming the world economy and a guarantee of
its sound development.

Unity prevails over conflict.  The history of humanity, in our own day
too, presents us with a vast panorama of current and potential
conflicts.  War, however, is never a solution.   As the hundredth
anniversary of Pope Benedict XV’s Letter to the Leaders of the Warring
Peoples draws near, I feel bound to ask that the world put an end to
all these “useless slaughters”.  The goal of the G20 and of other
similar annual meetings is to resolve economic differences peacefully
and to agree on common financial and trade rules to allow for the
integral development of all, in order to implement the 2030 Agenda and
the Sustainable Development Goals (cf. Communiqué of the G20 Hangzhou
Summit).  Yet that will not be possible unless all parties commit
themselves to substantially reducing levels of conflict, halting the
present arms race and renouncing direct or indirect involvement in
conflicts, as well as agreeing to discuss sincerely and transparently
all their differences.  There is a tragic contradiction and
inconsistency in the apparent unity expressed in common forums on
economic or social issues, and the acceptance, active or passive, of
armed conflicts.

Realities are more important than ideas.  The fateful ideologies of
the first half of the twentieth century have been replaced by new
ideologies of absolute market autonomy and financial speculation (cf.
Evangelii Gaudium, 56).  In their tragic wake, these bring exclusion,
waste and even death.  The significant political and economic
achievements of the past century, on the other hand, were always
marked by a sound and prudent pragmatism, guided by the primacy of the
human being and the attempt to integrate and coordinate diverse and at
times opposed realities, on the basis of respect for each and every
citizen.  I pray to God that the Hamburg Summit may be illumined by
the example of those European and world leaders who consistently gave
pride of place to dialogue and the quest of common solutions: Schuman,
De Gasperi, Adenauer, Monnet and so many others.

The whole is greater than the part.  Problems need to be resolved
concretely and with due attention to their specificity, but such
solutions, to be lasting, cannot neglect a broader vision.  They must
likewise consider eventual repercussions on all countries and their
citizens, while respecting the views and opinions of the latter.  Here
I would repeat the warning that Benedict XVI addressed to the G20
London Summit in 2009.  While it is reasonable that G20 Summits should
be limited to the small number of countries that represent 90% of the
production of wealth and services worldwide, this very situation must
prompt the participants to a profound reflection.  Those states and
individuals whose voice is weakest on the world political scene are
precisely the ones who suffer most from the harmful effects of
economic crises for which they bear little or no responsibility.  This
great majority, which in economic terms counts for only 10% of the
whole, is the portion of humanity that has the greatest potential to
contribute to the progress of everyone.  Consequently, there is need
to make constant reference to the United Nations, its programmes and
associated agencies, and regional organizations, to respect and honour
international treaties, and to continue promoting a multilateral
approach, so that solutions can be truly universal and lasting, for
the benefit of all (cf. Benedict XVI, Letter to the Honourable Gordon
Brown, 30 March 2009).

I offer these considerations as a contribution to the work of the G20,
with trust in the spirit of responsible solidarity that guides all
those taking part.  I ask God’s blessings upon the Hamburg meeting and
on every effort of the international community to shape a new era of
development that is innovative, interconnected, sustainable,
environmentally respectful and inclusive of all peoples and all
individuals (cf. Communiqué of the G20 Hangzhou Summit).

I take this occasion to assure Your Excellency of my high
consideration and esteem.

From the Vatican, 29 June 2017

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/07/07/pope_francis_message_to_g20/1323678

END
______________________
John Ashworth

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