Pope Francis is urging for reforms to the United Nations — specifically to the UN Security Council — in an upcoming book, saying the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine have exposed its limitations, in line with AFP.
Why it matters: Within the book, Francis criticizes the UN as not fit for “recent realities” and denounces war and the possession of nuclear weapons as immoral, saying its unconscionable states proceed to supply such weapons.
What they’re saying: The Italian newspaper La Stampa on Sunday published an excerpt of Francis’ recent book, titled “I Ask You within the Name of God: Ten Prayers for a Way forward for Hope.”
- “To the specific rejection of my predecessors, the events of the primary 20 years of this century compel me so as to add, unambiguously, that there isn’t a occasion wherein a war will be considered just,” a part of the excerpt reads, in line with Vatican News.
- “There’s never a spot for the barbarism of war, especially not when contention acquires certainly one of its most unjust faces: that of so-called ‘preventive wars,” it continues.
- “We must all work together to pave the way in which for a typical hope. All of us can, and must, participate on this social technique of peace constructing.”
- He urges the Security Council to turn out to be “more agile and effective ways of resolving conflicts” and for the UN generally to implement “organic reforms” that may help it in “serving the human family,” in line with AFP.
The large picture: In August, the Vatican for the primary time explicitly said Russia was the instigator of the war with Ukraine.
- Since then, Francis has gone on to say it may well be “morally acceptable” for states to produce weapons to Ukraine to defend itself within the invasion, in line with the Recent York Times.
- In his UN General Assembly speech in September, President Biden said the U.S. supports reforms to the Security Council, including adding everlasting and non-permanent seats on the council for countries in Africa and Latin America.
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