Politics 18:49 01/12/2015

Pope Francis answers questions about Russia-Turkey tension and his visit to Armenia

In a Q&A with journalists on his way from Africa back to Rome, Pope Francis on November 30 answered questions posed by journalists from across the world. He touched on inter-religious relations, the role of the media, and his favorite memories from Africa, according to Catholicnewsagency.com.

In particular, Marco Ansaldo, the correspondent of Le Repubblica, told Pope Francis: “I’d like to ask if you have thought about going for the 101st anniversary of the events in Armenia that will take place next year, just as you did last year in Turkey”.

Pope Francis said: “Last year, I promised the three patriarchs that I would go. The promise is there. I don’t know if it can happen, but the promise is there”.

When the same reporter asked the Pope a question related to the downing of a Russian Su-24 jet by Turkey, resulting in Russia-Turkey tension, Pope Francis replied: “The Wars happen for ambitions. Wars, I speak of wars not for defending oneself against an unjust aggressor but wars are an industry. In history, we’ve seen so many times that in a nation, the balance sheets aren’t going well, “Ah, let’s fight a war” and the offset is over. War is a business, a business of weapons. Terrorists, do they make weapons? Yeah, maybe just little ones. Who gives them to them to make war? There an entire network of interests where there is money or power behind, either imperial or joint power. But we have been at war for years and more all the time. The pieces are fewer and bigger. What do I think? I don’t know what the Vatican thinks, but what do I think? (laughs) That wars are a sin. They are against humanity. They destroy humanity. They are a cause of exploitation, of human trafficking, of so many things. They must be stopped. At the United Nations, twice I said this word, both in Kenya and in New York, that your work not be a “declarationist” nominalism, that it be effective, that they make peace. They do so many things. Here in Africa, I saw how the “Blue helmets” work. But this isn’t sufficient. Wars don’t come from God. God is a God of peace. God made the world. God made everything beautiful and then, according to the Biblical account, one brother kills another. It’s the first war, the first world war, between brothers. That’s what comes to me and it pains me greatly.

Francois Beaudonnet, France Television, said: “Today, in Paris the conference on climate change is going on. You have made a great effort to make everything turn out well. Do we expect too much from this conference? Are we sure that the COP21 will be the beginning of the solution?”

Pope Francis said in response: “I am not sure. I am not sure. But, I can tell you: (it’s) now or never.”
 



Source Panorama.am
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