Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Church leaders call for an end end to conflict and tribalism
POPE Francis yesterday urged people to overcome religious differences to bring an end to conflict in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere in the Middle East.
Delivering his Christmas Day address to 50,000 gathered in Saint Peter’s Square, he said: “My wish for a happy Christmas is a wish for fraternity. All of us are brothers and sisters in humanity.”
Just days after Donald Trump announced he would withdraw US troops from Syria, he also called for a political solution that would allow millions of Syrian refugees to go home.
The 82-year-old pontiff delivered his message amid tight security after the arrest this week of a Somali suspected of Islamic State membership who threatened to bomb St Peter’s.
GAP
The Pope also called for dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians and a political solution in Yemen.
He also appealed for “social harmony” in Venezuela and reconciliation in Nicaragua.
On Christmas Eve the Pope had expressed concern about the widening gap between rich and poor and the damage caused by “insatiable greed”.
The Archbishop of Canterbury urged the UK to avoid “hatred, tribalism [and] rivalry” in his Christmas Day sermon.
The Most Reverend Justin Welby told his congregation to aim for peace and unity at a time of challenge and discord.
While not specifically mentioning politics, he stressed the language of love must replace one of conflict.
“God’s language of love is exclusive,” he said at Canterbury Cathedral.