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Pope Francis says world suffering a ‘famine of peace’
Pope Francis has said the world is suffering from a “famine of peace”, in his annual Christmas Day message from the Vatican.
He called for a end to the “senseless war” in Ukraine, condemning what he said was the use of “food as a weapon” of war.
Ukraine shipped about 30% of the world’s wheat and prices have jumped since the Russian invasion in February.
It was Pope Francis’ 10th Christmas Day address since he assumed the papacy.
While the war in Ukraine occupied much of his 10-minute speech, he spoke of “a grave famine of peace also in other regions and other theatres of this Third World War”.
He singled out conflicts and humanitarian crises in the Middle East, Myanmar, Haiti, and the Sahel region of Africa.
The pontiff also prayed for “reconciliation” in Iran, where mass antigovernment protests have swept the country for more than three months. The protests there have been met by a crackdown, with more than 500 people, including 69 children, killed, human rights groups say.
Speaking from a balcony at the basilica overlooking St Peter’s Square, the 86-yearold Pope lamented the human cost of war. He urged not to forget those “who go hungry while huge amounts of food daily go to waste and resources are being spent on weapons”.
“The war in Ukraine has further aggravated this situation, putting entire peoples at risk of famine, especially in Afghanistan and in the countries of the Horn of Africa,” he said.
The Pope said “those who hold political responsibilities” should lead the way to make food “solely an instrument of peace”.
His message was followed by the customary Urbi et Orbi (To the City and to the World) blessing, recited in Latin and traditionally in many other languages as well.
King Charles’ first Christmas speech reflects cost-of-living crisis
Foreign aid groups halt work after Taliban ban on female staff
King Charles has used his first Christmas message to reflect on the cost-of-living crisis.
He spoke of the “great anxiety and hardship” for those struggling to “pay their bills and keep their families fed and warm”.
There were images of food banks and help for the homeless alongside the speech, recorded by the King in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
He paid tribute to his mother Queen Elizabeth, who is buried in the chapel.
The late Queen pioneered the televised royal Christmas Day address, and used what was to become her final message last year to speak of “passing the baton” to the next generation.
The themes of the King’s speech touched on some of his causes and beliefs - concern for the disadvantaged, the importance of public service and supporting a multi-faith approach to religion.
Only “working royals” appeared on screen in the King’s broadcast, including the Queen Consort, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Earl of Wessex and the Princess Royal.
That meant that Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were not mentioned. The Duke of York was also not included.
At a time of industrial strife and financial pressures, the King’s message focused on those supporting people in need.
“I particularly want to pay tribute to all those wonderfully kind people who so generously give food or donations, or that most precious commodity of all, their time, to support those around them in greatest need,” said the King.
The message was accompanied by pictures of charities giving food to the homeless and volunteers helping at a food bank.
Buckingham Palace has said funds donated after the death of the late Queen were being given to a charity helping those unable to pay energy bills.
The King has gathered with other senior royals at Sandringham, Norfolk, for Christmas, and earlier attended the traditional Christmas Day service for the first time as monarch.
The King praised the emergency services who “worked tirelessly to keep us all safe”, teachers and health and social care staff.
Last year proved to be the late Queen’s last Christmas message, and the King remembered the “love and sympathy” that followed her death in September.
“Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones. We feel their absence at every familiar turn of the season and remember them in each cherished tradition,” said the King.
Standing “close to where my beloved mother, the late Queen is laid to rest with my dear father”, he spoke of his mother’s faith in God and also her “faith in people”.
The message highlighted the community work of faith groups, and the King, as well as asserting his own Christian belief, extended this to other religions.
He spoke of the “heartfelt solidarity” shown by “churches, synagogues, mosques and gurdwaras”.
The King described how moved he had been to go to the birthplace of Christ in Bethlehem: “It meant more to me than I can possibly express to stand on that spot.”
The aid groups say the ban on female staff is a direct threat to their lifesaving work
Three major non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have halted work in Afghanistan after women were banned from working for them by the Taliban.
In a joint statement, Care International, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and Save the Children said they would be unable to continue their work “without our female staff”.
The aid groups are “demanding” that women can continue to work for them.
Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban have been steadily repressing women’s rights.
The latest edict on NGOs came just days after the Taliban banned women from attending university.
Abdel Rahman Habib, spokesman for the Taliban’s ministry of economy, claimed female workers at the foreign aid groups had broken dress codes by not wearing hijabs.
The Taliban threatened to cancel the licence of any organisation that did not swiftly comply with the ban.
The leaders of Care, the NRC and Save the Children said the organisations “would not have jointly reached millions of Afghans in need since August 2021” were it not for their female staff.
“Whilst we gain clarity on this announcement, we are suspending our programmes, demanding that men and women can equally continue our lifesaving assistance in Afghanistan,” their statement added.
Ramiz Alakbarov, the United Nations’ top humanitarian coordinator, said the UN was trying to get the ban reversed and that it was a “red line for the entire humanitarian community”.
The United Nations could stop humanitarian aid delivery in Afghanistan if the Taliban authorities do not reverse their edict banning women aid workers, the official told the BBC.
But Mr Alakbarov said it was still unclear what the Taliban meant by its edict.
He said the Taliban’s minister of health had told the UN the agency should continue its health-related work and women could “report to work and discharge their services”. Other ministries had also contacted the UN directly to say work in the areas of disaster management and emergencies should continue, he added.
Source;BBC
