In a time marked by global uncertainty and division, Cardinal Pietro Parolin is urging the world not to lose sight of hope—but to act on it.
Speaking in an interview highlighted by Vatican News, the Vatican Secretary of State described today’s geopolitical climate as deeply concerning, saying, “We are all truly worried about what is happening.” Yet even in the midst of this тревailing reality, he pointed to a powerful truth: hope still exists.
According to Vatican News, Cardinal Parolin emphasized that hope is found in those who refuse to surrender to despair. Instead, they continue to believe “that a new world is possible, a new society is possible, a new way of living and relating to one another is possible.”
At the heart of this hope, he explained, is the Christian faith. Far from being abstract, it offers “concrete guidance,” especially through its call to fraternity. In a fractured world, the Cardinal pointed to the enduring witness of St. Francis of Assisi, whose life continues to echo the Gospel message of love.
“The message that comes to us today from St. Francis, who echoes Jesus’ message, is to love everyone, even our enemies,” Cardinal Parolin said, according to Vatican News. “It is only from this love that we can draw hope: a love that is all things to all people and that seeks to build a reality of peace.”
But the Cardinal did not limit his message to spiritual encouragement. He also issued a direct challenge to those in positions of power. He warned that the voices of the suffering and marginalized must not be ignored, calling attention to what he described as a growing disconnect between leaders and ordinary people.
According to Vatican News, he said it is essential that the “cry of protest” from those left behind be transformed into “political action.” Yet he acknowledged a troubling reality: many leaders today “are not very sensitive or attentive to the voice rising from the grassroots.”
In this context, the Gospel becomes not only a message of personal salvation, but a force that challenges injustice and indifference. It calls believers to resist becoming comfortable with systems that exploit others and instead to work toward a more just and compassionate world.
Reflecting on the continued influence of St. Francis, Cardinal Parolin noted that in a time when many are searching for meaning, it is often the witness of holy lives—not just ideas—that inspires change. According to Vatican News, he explained that “people feel the need to have models and examples before them in their daily lives,” and for many, St. Francis remains a living sign of hope.
As pilgrims continue to flock to Assisi to venerate the saint’s relics, the message is clear: even in a wounded world, faith, love, and courageous action can still point the way forward.
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