On December 12, Pope Francis issued his message for the 58th World Day of Peace, observed annually on January 1st.
The Pope began by extending “heartfelt good wishes of peace to every man and woman, especially those who feel downtrodden, burdened by past mistakes, oppressed by the judgment of others, and incapable of perceiving even a glimmer of hope for their own lives.”
He highlighted that next year, the Catholic Church will celebrate the Jubilee of Hope, describing it as an event that “would proclaim a year of forgiveness and freedom for all people, restoring God’s justice in every aspect of life.” This Jubilee, he noted, “inspires us to seek to establish the liberating justice of God in our world.”
Pope Francis emphasized the collective responsibility for the state of our earth, particularly mentioning “all manner of disparities, the inhuman treatment meted out to migrants, environmental decay, the confusion willfully created by disinformation, the refusal to engage in any form of dialogue, and the immense resources spent on the industry of war.”
He described the Jubilee as a call for change, urging us to “confront the present state of injustice and inequality by reminding ourselves that the goods of the earth are meant not for a privileged few, but for everyone.” He further proclaimed that by embracing these changes, the “Jubilee Year of Grace can serve to set each of us on a renewed journey of hope, born of the experience of God’s unlimited mercy.”
The Pope also advocated for a culture that respects “the dignity of human life from conception to natural death” and called for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide.
In a significant proposal, he suggested that “in this time marked by wars, let us use at least a fixed percentage of the money earmarked for armaments to establish a global Fund to eradicate hunger and facilitate in poorer countries educational activities aimed at promoting sustainable development and combating climate change.”
Concluding his message with a biblical reference, Pope Francis expressed hope with the words, “steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss. (Psalm 85:10)”
Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the LVIII World Day of Peace, January 1, 2025.
