Link to the article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8en1jn3n5o
During Pope Francis’s annual Christmas Day address, he brought up major global issues today including the Russia- Ukraine War and urged a ceasefire in Gaza. The Pope stated: “boldness is needed to open the door in order to achieve a just and lasting peace”. The Pope proposed a more open and cooperative dialogue between Russia and Ukraine following Russia’s major attack on Ukraine energy facilities that day. Pope Francis finished his statement about the Russia-Ukraine war, saying: “May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine”. The Pope also restated what he had said the previous year, promoting a ceasefire in Gaza as well as freeing hostages held by Hamas. Once again he advised for the lines of communication to be free and the doors to peace be “flung open”. The Pope also expressed concerns for the Christian population in Lebanon, Syria and Israel. He discussed the reduction of Christianity in Syria because of ongoing war and the influence of Islamist rebel control. In closing, the Pope urged nations who are in active war or in rising tensions to strive for peace, open communication and hope.
This article emphasizes the Pope’s voice on global politics and his influence on the morality of international relations. He brings up pressing conflicts in the world right now and urges peace during ongoing war and humanitarian struggles. Pope Francis mentions many different nations in his speech and shows how interconnected the world is; this furthers his point of needing unity to address the violence occurring. This speech may have an impact on future international efforts to reach resolutions in the global community. The Pope’s speech could also raise tensions with Ukraine and Israel because of his outspokenness about Israel’s military actions and Ukraine’s belief that he is undermining its sovereignty. The speech could encourage Russia and Ukraine to shift toward peaceful dialogue and negotiations. Ukraine may respond by considering more negotiations with Russia than they have previously, but Ukraine may also stick to their desire for sovereignty. Although the Pope’s speech is very encouraging toward peace and change, those things are hard to bring about in the various wars in the world today. When authoritarian governments and terrorist groups are involved in world conflicts, peace and cooperation are often unattainable.
When connecting this article back to class, the Pope’s speech is a great example of soft power. He uses his moral influence and religious authority to get his point across, rather than using military or economic strategies to force his agenda. He connects the importance of religion in international relations in order to obtain peace and unity.