The heartfelt call of Francis in his speech to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences: “Reject research whose purpose is death, let scientists unite to form a force in defense of peace.”
Vatican City () – “I said it was a third world war ‘in pieces’. Today we can perhaps say ‘total’, and the risks for people and the planet are increasing”. The Pope met this morning at the Vatican with the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, on the occasion of its plenary session dedicated to the theme “Basic science for human development, peace and planetary health.” And the Pontiff today expressed again his great concern for the conflicts that the world is going through.
“Saint John Paul II gave thanks to God because, through the intercession of Mary, the world was preserved from atomic war,” he added. “Unfortunately, we must continue to pray for this danger, which should have been avoided long ago.”
“After the two tragic world wars,” the pontiff told scientists gathered at the Vatican, “it seemed that the world had gradually learned to move towards respect for human rights, international law and various forms of cooperation. But Unfortunately, history shows signs of regression: not only are anachronistic conflicts intensifying, but closed, exaggerated and aggressive nationalisms are resurfacing, as well as new wars of domination, which affect the civilian population, the elderly, the children and the sick, and cause destruction everywhere”.
Pope Francis highlighted the specific role that scientists can play at this time, opposing research for war purposes to promote action for peace. “It is necessary to mobilize all the knowledge based on science and experience,” he said, “to overcome misery, poverty, the new slavery, and avoid wars.” By rejecting some research, inevitably destined, in concrete historical circumstances, to death, scientists from all over the world can unite in a common will to disarm science and form a force for peace.”
“In the name of God, who has created all human beings for a common destiny of happiness”, the Pope concluded, “we are called today to bear witness to our fraternal essence of freedom, justice, dialogue, mutual encounter, love and peace. , avoiding fueling hatred, resentment, division, violence and war”. In the name of the God who gave us the planet to safeguard and develop it, today we are called to ecological conversion to save our common home and our lives together with those of future generations, instead of increasing inequality, exploitation and destruction. “.
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