Pope laments man-made ‘ruin’ as cities light the skies

Bidding 2017 farewell, Pope Francis last night decried wars, injustices, social and environmental degradation and other man-made ills that he said had spoiled the year.

Francis presided at a New Year’s Eve prayer service in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

In his homily, the pope said God gave a “whole and sound” year, but “we humans in so many ways ruined and hurt it with works of death, with lies and injustices”.

“The wars are the flagrant sign of this repeated and absurd pride,” he said. “But so are all the little and big offences against life, truth, brotherhood, that cause multiple forms of human, social and environmental degradation.”

Celebrations to mark the new year started in more joyous fashion elsewhere in the world.

Fireworks that lit up the sky above Sydney Harbour in Australia included a rainbow waterfall cascade of lights and colour that celebrated recently passed legislation legalising gay marriage.

Hong Kong celebrated the start of 2018 with a spectacular fireworks display above the iconic Victoria Harbour.

South Koreans enjoyed a happy distraction after a long year marred by a corruption scandal and the emergence of neighbouring North Korea as a nuclear missile force. Thousands filled the streets near Seoul’s City Hall for a traditional bell-tolling ceremony to usher in the new year.