Just hours before the major gathering on human fraternity at the Vatican, Pope Leo met with some participants.
Among them were Graça Machel, the wife of Nelson Mandela, and American singer Pharrell Williams.
Pope Leo addressed them in Italian and English, beginning with the reason why they had gathered.
POPE LEO XIV
The planet is marked by conflict and division, and yet you are united by a strong and courageous ‘no’ to war, and a ‘yes’ to peace and fraternity.
Pope Leo then posed a series of questions for reflection.
POPE LEO XIV
Where are you in the “business” of wars that shatter the lives of young people forced to take up arms; target defenseless civilians, children, women and elderly people; devastate cities, the countryside and entire ecosystems, leaving only rubble and pain in their wake? Brother, sister, where are you among the migrants who are despised, imprisoned and rejected, among those who seek salvation and hope but find only walls and indifference?
But this was not the Pope’s only meeting that day. In total, there were seven others. For example, he met with the President of Moldova, with whom he discussed, among other things, the situation in Ukraine.
He also met with the new president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
In addition, Pope Leo met with the Prime Minister of Dominica and the Governor of the Bank of Italy.
CRT
