There is one thing that is certain and indisputable about climate change: it is the poorest people, those who are the least responsible for carbon emissions, who are suffering from the greatest impact. Another sad reality is that it is these very same people who have the least access to the resources needed to fight against climate change and its impact on their environment.
Pope Francis is currently on a pilgrimage in the Holy Land and has brought with him a message of peace. While travelling towards Jerusalem, he passed through Jordan, Palestine and Israel, and took the opportunity to highlight the work of the local Caritas offices in the region, which are helping victims of the conflict in the Middle East, mainly refugees.
On the first leg of his trip in Jordan, the Pope told dignitaries at the Royal Palace about the work of Caritas Jordan and how it is helping Syrian refugees who have been driven from their homes.
L’urgence d’établir la paix en Syrie s’est manifestée de façon criante mercredi à 16 h, quand une roquette a frappé directement le centre de Caritas Syrie à Alep. Par miracle, personne ne se trouvait dans l’édifice. Cependant, les bureaux ont subi des dommages importants.
The need for peace in Syria hit very close to home on Wednesday, when a Caritas Syria centre in Aleppo received a direct hit from a rocket at 4 p.m. Miraculously, the centre was empty and no one was injured in the attack. The centre’s office, however, sustained significant damage.
Au moment où le climat de violence s’intensifie en République centrafricaine (RCA), l’Église catholique du pays appelle à un cessez-le-feu immédiat.
« Nous sommes profondément préoccupés par la crise qui sévit en République centrafricaine. La situation est chaotique à Bangui. On dénombre beaucoup de morts. Les combats doivent cesser immédiatement », a déclaré l’archevêque de Bangui, Mgr Dieudonné Nzapalainga.
As violence continues to escalate in the Central African Republic, the Catholic Church in the country is calling for an immediate ceasefire.
"We're deeply concerned about the crisis in Central African Republic (CAR). The situation in Bangui is chaotic. Many people have been killed. The fighting must stop immediately," said Archbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga of the capital Bangui.
With the civil war in Syria showing no signs of abating, those who fled their homes and became refugees in neighbouring countries, continue to wonder if they will ever be able to return to their homeland, while others continue to make the heart wrenching decision to leave to escape the violence at their doorsteps. There are now almost 2 million Syrian refugees spread throughout the Middle East, including 680,000 in Lebanon alone.
During an informal audience at the Vatican on Thursday May 16, Pope Francis received executives from the Caritas Internationalis network. He reminded those gathered that “a Church without charity does not exist,” and underlined the “dual dimension” of the initiative that is Caritas Internationalis, that is, the dimension of social action joined with the spiritual dimension of “giving oneself, going outside oneself and being at the continuous service of people living in extreme situations.
When 154 members of the United Nations General Assembly, including Canada, voted in favour of a universal Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) on April 2nd, 2013, it was a historic step towards instilling a culture of peace worldwide.
The Legal Affairs Commission of Caritas Internationalis met on March 4 and 5, 2013 at the offices of Development and Peace. The Commission meets twice a year to carry out its work, once in Rome and once at the offices of a member of the Caritas Internationalis Confederation. The vice president of Caritas Internationalis, Erny Gillen, also attended the meeting. He visited our offices and met with staff members to discuss the Confederation’s work.
