Pope Francis today warned that the risks of a nuclear war are increasing and urged the scientific community to unite for disarmament and a force for peace.
“The risks for people and for the planet are increasing,” the Pope said, quoted by the EFE agency, at the ceremony in which he received representatives of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in audience at the Vatican.
Francis recalled that John Paul II “thanked God because, through the intercession of Mary, the world has been saved from atomic war”, adding that “unfortunately it is necessary to continue praying for this danger, which should have been avoided”. long ago.”
“After the tragic world wars, (…) history shows signs of going backwards. Not only anachronistic conflicts are intensifying, but also the resurgence of closed, exaggerated and aggressive nationalisms and new wars of domination, which affect civilians, the elderly, children and the sick and cause destruction everywhere”, he stressed.
Francis stressed that “the numerous armed conflicts are very worrying” to add that what was said to be a third world war “little by little” can now be said to be “total”.
In the meeting with representatives of the scientific institution founded by the church in 1603, the Pope stressed that “it is necessary to mobilize all knowledge based on science and experience to overcome misery, poverty, the new slavery and avoid the wars”.
“By rejecting certain research, inevitably destined, in concrete historical circumstances, for deadly ends, scientists from all over the world can unite in a common will to disarm science and form a force for peace,” he defended.
The Pope insisted that the scientific discoveries of the 21st century “must be at the service of society and always be guided by the demands of fraternity, justice and peace, helping to solve the great challenges of humanity and its habitat”.
Francis praised the Pontifical Academy of Sciences for “sharing the benefits of science and technology with the greatest number of people, especially the most needy and disadvantaged.”
He also highlighted the role of this organization in the purpose of combating the various forms of slavery, such as forced labor, prostitution and organ trafficking, “crimes against humanity that go hand in hand with poverty, but that also occur in the developed countries”. ”.
“The human body can never be, in part or in its entirety, an object of commerce,” he stressed.
Source: Observadora
