Pope Francis urges global dialogue to prevent world war

Pope Francis yesterday expressed concern about “the increasingly concrete threat of a world war” during a New Year’s reception for foreign ambassadors to the Holy See.

The head of the Catholic Church called on diplomats to engage in dialogue, even with difficult interlocutors.

“Dialogue,” he said, “is the only way to break the chains of hatred and vengeance that bind us and to defuse the explosive power of human selfishness, pride, and arrogance, which are the root of every destructive determination to wage war.”

He added that his wish for 2025 was for the war in Ukraine to end and repeated his appeal for a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.

The 88-year-old pontiff also warned of the dangers of the spread of fake news, which not only distorts facts but also perceptions.

“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 said.

Since 2013, Pope Francis has been the leader of some 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, as well as the head of the Vatican City State.

The smallest state in the world maintains diplomatic relations with 184 countries.