Vatican, 10 January 2023 (GNP): Pope Francis in his New Year address to the diplomats accredited to the Vatican condemned the execution of Iranian protesters in a bid to coerce and subjugate the Iranian people. The pope also called the Ukraine war a crime against God and humanity. This speech of the Pope provides a glimpse of the thoughts of the Vatican at the beginning of each New Year. That is why it is also called the “state of the world speech” by the pope.
The eight paged speech covered almost all epicenters of world politics in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
He asked those who are at the helm of power to protect weak and downtrodden ones. He said this in his repeated condemnation of abortion, though in 2015 the forgiveness rules of the Catholic Church were relaxed by the pontiff for women who had no other option than this, as was said by the Pope and other officials of the Vatican regarding this one-time forgiveness rule relaxation.
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In the Benediction Hall of the Vatican, apart from speaking on other world issues, the pope also pointed out how the women in Iran are suffering under an authoritarian regime. He also deplored the hanging of protesters by Tehran for subjugating the Iranian people.
The Iranian people, especially women, are protesting after the custodial death of 22 years old Kurd Iranian lady, Mahsa Amini last September.
Every person has a right to life, and no one is authorized by any law to deprive them of their life. This was said by the Pope in his New Year speech at the Vatican. He again urged all those countries where capital punishments are awarded to criminals the immediate ending of this punishment.
It should be noted that at least four protesters were excited by the Iranian government for calming down these protests.
By referring to the Ukrainian war, he called it a crime against God and humanity. He also invoked from the constitution of the Vatican City that denouncing any war that destroys and kills is the responsibility of every sane person.
Pope Francis again requested a total ban on nuclear weapons and a peaceful, loving Earth for all. He alluded to the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 that even today the world is living in the fear of annihilation by a nuclear war.