Pope Francis issued a heartfelt appeal on the 9th of January, 2025, urging the world to embrace dialogue as a means to avert the looming threat of a global war.
Speaking at a New Year’s reception for foreign ambassadors, the Pope expressed deep concern about the “increasingly concrete threat of a world war,” emphasizing the urgency for nations to act.
The Catholic Pontiff called on diplomats to foster communication, even with challenging counterparts, underscoring that “dialogue is the only way to break the chains of hatred and vengeance that bind and to defuse the explosive power of human selfishness, pride, and arrogance, which is the root of every destructive determination to wage war.”
As the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis shared his fervent hope for peace in 2025, particularly calling for an end to the war in Ukraine and renewing his plea for a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.
The 88-year-old pontiff also cautioned against the perils of fake news, which he described as a destructive force that distorts truth and reality.
“This phenomenon generates false images of reality, a climate of suspicion that foments hate, undermines people’s sense of security, and compromises civil coexistence and the stability of entire nations,” he warned.
Since ascending to the papacy in 2013, Pope Francis has served not only as the spiritual leader of approximately 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide but also as the head of Vatican City, the smallest sovereign state in the world.
The Vatican maintains diplomatic ties with 184 countries, cementing its role as a significant voice in global affairs.