In the usual press conference on the plane returning from a trip, this time to Africa, Pope Francis warned with alarm that “there are wars everywhere, which are causing the world to self-destruct, with war outbreaks occurring in America Latin”.
At ten thousand meters above sea level, returning to Rome after visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan for a week, Francis exclaimed in response to a question, gesturing with his hand: «How many hotspots are there now in Latin America? !”.
The conflict in Ukraine “is not the only one”, it should be remembered that “the whole world is at war”, he remarked.
“We must not forget that there are countries that have been at war for more than ten years, such as Syria and Yemen,” he said.
“We have to think seriously about the situation, because a bomb is dropped and a bigger one is answered and we don’t know how to stop this escalation.”
The Argentine Pope has defined “the current plague” the sale of weapons. “There are economic interests behind it,” he said.
Regarding his offer to go to Ukraine and Russia to mediate in the war involving Europe, the USA and China, Francis said: For the moment “I will not go to Kiev if I cannot go to Moscow”.
travel calendar
Faced with another question, the pontiff his presence at the World Youth Day has been confirmed for the month of August to be held in Lisbon and his trip to Marseilles on September 23, where a meeting of bishops of the Mediterranean area will be held, where the problem of migrations will be discussed.
He also said that, although it is not confirmed, he is planning an apostolic visit to Mongolia, where there is a new Italian cardinal, Giorgio Marengo, who is the youngest cardinal in the College of Cardinals.
He explained it planning a tour to India for next year and said he wants to visit the smallest countries in Europe: “So I too don’t fall into the globalization of indifference”.
about homosexuality
Responding to other questions on the subject, the Pope reiterated that “the criminalization of homosexuals is an injustice, a sin and we must not let it go.”
“I think there are 50 countries that criminalize it in one way or another. There are even a dozen who apply the death penalty to homosexuals. This is not right,” she said.
Homosexuals “are children of God, God wants them, accompanies them and condemning such a person is a sin”, he said, reiterating the same concepts repeated in a recent interview with the Associated Press agency.
Francisco clarified that he was referring to people: “I’m not talking about groups, it’s something else. Lobbies are another thing. I’m talking about people and in the catechism of the church it has already been said that no one should be marginalized”.
He reiterated this for the Church Homosexual practice “is a sin, not a crime.”
Benedict XVI
Francisco also stated that he believes that the death of Benedict XVI, which took place on December 31 at the age of 95, “was exploited by people of the party and not of the Church”.
In an evident allusion to the statements, publications and books that filled the discussions in January with speeches hostile to the Pope by the late Ratzinger’s secretary, Francis said that “those stories that are told that Benedict XVI was very angry” with him “I am a Chinese fairy tale”.
After several flurry of questions, Bergoglio specified that “I have always been able to consult and talk about everything with the Pope Emeritus. I consulted Benedict about some decisions and he agreed.”
He added that the criticism doesn’t bother him, “but I’d rather be told it to my face.”
“I let things go and the Church will go on as usual”, he concluded.
Vatican correspondent
B. C
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.