Humanity needs to cease conflicts, or conflicts may exterminate humanity
Cardinal Zuppi Calls for End to War and Embracing Peace in Speech
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi delivered a powerful message of hope, peace, and the urgent need for an end to war and violence during a "martyrdom of faith" rite in St. Peter's Square on July 31.
The cardinal, who presided over the event, emphasized the importance of fostering peace in a world marked by conflict. He urged young people and the Church to be active witnesses to peace and hope, linking faith deeply with the commitment to peace and reconciliation.
"Peace is possible if desired," Cardinal Zuppi said, emphasizing that ongoing wars are "nonsense" that must come to an end. He expressed concern about the logic of oppression that has become "normal" today and called for an end to conflict, stating that humanity must end war, or war will end humanity.
The cardinal compared the Church's role to that of the first Apostles, bringing a word that builds, opens horizons, and creates opportunities for trust. He noted that hunger is not a theory but a real issue in the Holy Land and expressed gratitude to those providing support during the war period.
Cardinal Zuppi invited everyone to Jerusalem once the war ends, hoping that our communities should become houses of peace, humble yet capable of great things. He recalled Pope Leo XIV's call for an armed and disarmed peace after his election and urged everyone to disarm their hearts to prevent new conflicts and heal wounds.
The cardinal's message aligns with the broader Jubilee of Youth themes of living faith through hope, service, and building justice. He concluded that love repairs everything, always, much more than we believe, and emphasized the need for dialogue, discussion, and dialectic in the Church's presence amidst difficulties and misunderstandings.
Cardinal Zuppi's speech followed a video message from the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the reading of the Gospel according to Matthew. Approximately 40,000 young Italians attended the event, which was part of their dedicated jubilee.
In his speech, the cardinal gave an example of people in Gaza, Israel, and throughout the Holy Land as "points of light" in the midst of distrust and hatred. He emphasized the need for faith's gaze to be needed in pain, bringing calm and comfort, and expressed hope that our communities should become houses of peace.
Cardinal Zuppi's message is a call to action for all Christians to embrace peace as a fundamental mission and to work towards ending war and violence in the world.
- In his speech, Cardinal Zuppi underscores the need for an end to war and violence, particularly in conflict-ridden regions, emphasizing that peace is achievable if we collectively desire it.
- The cardinal's call to action urges all Christians to make peace a fundamental mission, working towards ending war and conflicts within politics, war-and-conflicts, and general-news, and fostering a culture of peace in their communities.
