A "throwaway
culture" and the "globalization indifference" can be defeated if
we allow ourselves to be won over by the concept of "fraternity" -
not to be confused with sterile aid. In
short, if we learn to see all human beings as brothers and sisters " called to share the
gifts of creation, the goods of progress and culture, to be partakers at the
same table of the fullness of life, to be protagonists of
integral and inclusive development". Pope Francis has chosen 'Fraternity, the Foundation and Pathway to Peace' as the theme for the 47th World Day of Peace in 2014, his first as Pope.
The Day is celebrated on the first day of each New Year since it was instituted by Pope Paul VI. The World Day of Peace was an initiative of Pope Paul VI and it is celebrated on the first day of each year. It is sent to particular churches and chancelleries all around the world, drawing attention to the essential value of peace and the need to work tirelessly in order to attain it.
From the start of his pontificate it has been obvious that Francis cares about overcoming a "throwaway culture" in favor of a "culture of encounter". Fraternity, reads the Vatican press release, " is a dowry that every man and every woman brings with himself or herself as a human being, as a child of the one Father. In the face of the many tragedies that afflict the family of nations - poverty, hunger, underdevelopment, conflicts, migrations, pollution, inequalities, injustice, organized crime, fundamentalisms - fraternity is the foundation and the pathway to peace ".
An exasperated well-being and the loss of the concept of universal brotherhood is harming the attainment of peace: " Others, rather than being "like us", appear more as antagonists or enemies and are often treated as objects. Not uncommonly, the poor and needy are regarded as a "burden", a hindrance to development. At most, they are considered as recipients of aid or compassionate assistance. They are not seen as brothers and sisters, called to share the gifts of creation, the goods of progress and culture, to be partakers at the same table of the fullness of life, to be protagonists of integral and inclusive development."
The importance of fraternity is then explained, a gift and task that comes from God the Father, urges us to be in solidarity against inequality and poverty that undermine the social fabric, to take care of every person, especially the weakest and most defenceless, to love him or her as oneself, with the very heart of Jesus Christ".
In conclusion, the Pope urges everyone to choose the pathway of fraternity to humanize the face of the world, a world "that is constantly growing more interdependent, the good of fraternity is one that we cannot do without. It serves to defeat the spread of the globalization of indifference to which Pope Francis has frequently referred. The globalization of indifference must give way to a globalization of fraternity. Fraternity should leave its mark on every aspect of life, including the economy, finance, civil society, politics, research, development, public and cultural institutions".