Francisco, when meeting with a delegation from the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary, reiterates his complaint against the arms industry and recalls that new weapons are being tested in Ukraine at the expense of people dying. He then affirms that in the Bible justice is to worship God and serve your neighbor
Benedetta Capelli – Cityvatican d
There is a reference to current events in Pope Francis’ address to a delegation from the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary, coming from Argentina, received at the Vatican on December 2. In his words, the pain of the war in Ukraine.
This war bothers me, it makes me suffer. Brothers against brothers, but not only this one. To think that in a century there were three world wars: 39-45, 14-18, and this one. To think that if weapons were not made for a year, world hunger would end, because I think it is the biggest industry. To think that a war is waged when an empire feels weak, so it kills to feel strong and to use the weapons it has to sell or give away to make new ones. It makes me suffer to see those drones that were circling Ukraine test. That they are new weapons that they are testing, at the expense of people who die.
exampleor fraternity
The question that the Bishop of Rome asks is about the meekness of man, the answer is found in Jeremiah. Strong is the invitation to work as brothers.
Against a culture of cruelty, of the werewolf for man, let us work from our faith, with these common sacred books and setting an example of fraternity.
worship, serve, help
The Pope also stops at those who, reflecting on his words, judge him as “a communist” because he “talks about social things” instead of talking about God. Instead, he emphasizes that “the justice of the heart” is present in the Bible, “it is always with God and with one’s neighbor”, therefore, it is adored and served, adored and helped.
He who only helps and does not worship is a good atheist, nothing more. He who worships and does not help is a cynic, a liar. The two go together. And we must strive for it, so that our faith becomes works and that our works lead us to faith. Is a circle.
Fform new social leaders
The delegation of the “Marshall T. Meyer” Latin American Rabbinical Seminary, on the occasion of the audience, presented to the Pope a proposal for social change through the formation of leaders, starting from a common spiritual perspective. An objective that must be achieved in union with the Holy See and through educational centers, spirituality centers and youth movements. In an interview with Vatican News, Argentine Rabbi Ariel Stofenmacher, rector of the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary, stressed that “the proposal has to do with understanding the needs of this world and with the vision that the Pope has of those needs, in regarding care for the poor and defense of the environment”. Hence the need to become “agents of change through education” to decisively face “the scourges of society such as discrimination, poverty, lack of work and gender violence.”
The Latin American Rabbinical Seminary is the main center for Jewish spirituality and education in Latin America. It was founded in 1962 in the city of Buenos Aires by Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer and has branches in Montevideo and Santiago de Chile.
The Pope: if weapons were not made for a year, world hunger would end – Vatican News