The New Zealand Catholic bishops have issued a pastoral statement on “Fighting Hopelessness in the Jubilee Year of Hope”. Source: NZCBC.
The statement references the Church’s current Jubilee of Hope, which stands in contrast with some of the hopelessness evident around the world, due to war, violence and injustice.
The statement – signed by Bishop Stephen Lowe, Bishop Michael Dooley, Bishop Paul Martin SM, Bishop Michael Gielen, Bishop John Adams and Bishop Richard Laurenson – references the efforts for peace from Pope Francis and, in recent weeks, Pope Leo XIV.
“Pope Leo XIV has immediately taken up the task of popes throughout history who speak up for the cause of peace, and for the cause of justice,” the bishops write.
“In his first Sunday address in St Peter’s Square, Pope Leo spoke about ongoing death and violence in Israel and Gaza, in Ukraine and the recent conflict in India and Pakistan. We see, too, warfare in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Sudan and in Myanmar, among other parts of the world.
“Among those conflicts, there is a unique pain in seeing the place of Our Lord’s birth, life, death and Resurrection torn apart by war, by famine and by destruction.
“Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, pronounced and upheld the dignity of every human person. We watch in horror as people’s dignity and their basic human rights are demeaned or destroyed in the places where Our Lord walked and preached.
“War and violence, especially in the context of civilian casualties and insecurity, cannot be wiped away as a problem ‘over there’, one far from our shores.”
The bishops urged “all world leaders to work for a true peace in ending these conflicts.
“Where dignity and rights are trampled upon, we all have a duty to react with hearts of compassion and closeness to our brothers and sisters. Where peace and stability are elusive or seemingly unattainable, our prayers are all the more urgent and necessary.”
FULL STORY
PASTORAL STATEMENT: Fighting Hopelessness in the Jubilee Year of Hope (NZCBC)
