'Overcome Indifference and Win Peace': Message of Pope Francis for World Day of Peace, 1 January 2016

In his message for the 49th World Day of Peace, celebrated on 1 January 2016, Pope Francis has once again addressed the challenge of indifference, a topic he has emphasised throughout his pontificate. 'Indifference leads to self-absorption and a lack of commitment. It thus contributes to the absence of peace with God, with our neighbour and with the environment.'

It is in recognising our mutual responsibility for one another and for our environment—what Pope Francis calls 'our fundamental vocation to fraternity and a life in common' — that we will 'overcome indifference and... win peace'. Failure to accept and care for one another's rights and freedoms and for our natural environment 'risks exploding sooner or later into acts of violence and insecurity'. So much of this we have seen in many parts of the world in 2015.

All are called in this Jubilee Year of Mercy to build ''a culture of solidarity and mercy to overcome indifference'.

In this new year, full of opportunity and possibility, may all who encounter a member of the global Mercy family experience welcome, warmth, generosity, hospitality and solidarity, finding us always  'proclaiming and witnessing to mercy'.

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

Image: Pope Francis Korea Haemi Castle 19 (cropped)" by Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service (Photographer name). Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Commons