Cardinal at the Chair of Hospitality in Sacrofano. On Trump’s statements about Europe, the Secretary of State recalls the Pope’s invitation to “disarm words” to “avoid turning them into conflicts”. He also hopes for negotiations “without preconditions” for Ukraine and calls for a “sense of moderation” in Gaza, not failing to denounce the “immorality” of possessing nuclear weapons. On Pope Francis’ health: the important thing is that he rests now.
By: Salvatore Cernuzio – Vatican News
Published date:
Negotiations “without preconditions” for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, a “sense of moderation” from Hamas and Israel, and solutions “without resorting to arms” for Gaza. Then, “disarmed” words, that help to dialogue, to meet and not to divide, and where they fail in this intent, “to be as silent as possible”. Cardinal Pietro Parolin looks with concern at the wars that tear the world apart, those fought in Europe and the Middle East, but also the verbal wars that exacerbate an era of tensions. The Vatican Secretary of State intervenes on the third day of the Chair of Hospitality, an event – ongoing until March 28 at the Fraterna Domus in Sacrofano, near Rome – designed to promote a culture of solidarity and the art of meeting and dialogue.
Wishing for the Pope’s recovery
Parolin is a protagonist of a debate on current affairs with Vincenzo Buonomo, pontifical delegate at the Pontifical Urban University, but first he stops with journalists to answer some questions on the sidelines of the event, starting with those about the Pope’s health, convalescing at Santa Marta. The cardinal hopes that Francis can “rest” and “recover gradually”; he recalls the Statio Orbis of five years ago in an isolated St. Peter’s Square, in the midst of the Covid pandemic, and emphasizes that – as then – “the Pope is well connected with the whole Church and all the faithful”. “This was demonstrated by all the demonstrations of affection and especially prayer with which he was accompanied during the days of his illness and which continue” even today.
Language to “disarm”
The cardinal’s gaze then widens to the world and reaches to the US, from where the recent “strong” statements of President Donald Trump against Europeans defined as “parasites” come. Parolin invites to “disarm words”, taking up the beautiful expression put by Pope Francis in black and white in the letter to the editor of Corriere della Sera, Luciano Fontana, on March 18. “Disarm words to avoid that they become conflicts and turn into waged war,” says the Secretary of State. “This applies to everyone. And especially today, when there is such a tense situation in all areas, it is good to use few words, to be as silent as possible and if words are used, wise words, words that can help to dialogue, to meet and not to divide.”
Negotiations in Ukraine and solutions for Gaza
Regarding Ukraine, while negotiations for a ceasefire are ongoing, the cardinal expresses hope that “truly” positive conclusions will be reached: “I believe that it is important to negotiate without preconditions – he says – so that a point of agreement is found and it is possible to reach a ceasefire, first and then, a real negotiation to achieve that just and lasting peace that we all hope for and that I think the parties themselves also want to achieve.”
Cardinal Parolin also calls for solutions in Gaza, not hiding the disappointment that the temporary truce could not become “a permanent truce”, in order to “start a process of pacification and reconstruction”. “I believe – he emphasizes – that both parties need to have a great sense of moderation, perhaps one that has not been exercised by both Hamas and the Israelis. Trying to find a way to solve the problem without the need to resort to arms.”
Immoral possession of nuclear weapons
The cardinal also speaks of peace in the subsequent debate with Buonomo, highlighting that “everyone thought that this peace would continue and we had laid the foundations for it to continue. It took very little to make this illusion disappear”. The problem, according to Parolin, is the “increasingly individualistic vision of man”, as well as the lack of mutual trust. “All this has repercussions at the international level,” says the cardinal. “No one trusts anyone anymore. And this stems from not being able to cultivate relationships and leads to rearmament, to attack before being attacked and creates this situation of permanent conflict.” For the Secretary of State, “the possession of nuclear weapons is immoral for the consequences they can cause.”
The will of states to observe the rules
And with reference to the summit of the “coalition of the willing” in Paris, he reiterates that “the entire international life depends on the willingness of states to observe the rules they have set for themselves.” “If there is no political will, there is no possibility of a peaceful and constructive international life,” Parolin concludes, recalling how international organizations were born in the context of the Cold War and after the great world conflicts that have bloodied Europe in the last century. “Today the world has changed profoundly, there are many centers of power and perhaps there has not been enough commitment on the part of international organizations to adapt to these new realities of the world.” Perhaps, according to the cardinal, “the hope of changing this system, which is a system of mutual blockage that does not allow to address the real problems of society, has been lost.” It is necessary to “adapt international organizations to the reality that has emerged in recent decades.” The problem is whether there is “interest in reforming them so that they function properly” or “whether one prefers to be inspired by other principles.”
This leads to a reflection on communication and the role of the media as amplifiers of peace and dialogue themes.
Il dovere dei cristiani di affrontare le questioni dimenticate
In particolare, il cardinale Parolin sottolinea che “come cristiani”, abbiamo il dovere e l’impegno di tornare su argomenti che tendono a essere dimenticati per ragioni nazionali o perché i media non vi dedicano grande attenzione.
Accoglienza verso i migranti
Nel corso della discussione, è emersa anche la questione della migrazione, con Parolin che ha evidenziato un “atteggiamento negativo” verso i migranti nonostante il riconoscimento dell’Europa dell’estremo bisogno di essi. Il cardinale ha sottolineato l’importanza di ridurre i flussi irregolari e di cambiare la percezione diffusa di invasione, accogliendo positivamente i migranti in fuga da situazioni di estrema miseria o conflitto. Offrire spazi di accoglienza ai migranti è essenziale.
Parlando della fuga dei cristiani dal Medio Oriente, Parolin ha evidenziato un impoverimento e ha definito la situazione una grande tragedia, non solo dal punto di vista religioso, ma anche per le comunità stesse. Queste comunità svolgono un ruolo di moderazione in molte situazioni e possono contribuire ad attenuare le tensioni. Il segretario di Stato ha sottolineato che una società senza cristiani rischia di diventare radicalizzata ed estremista.
