Fraternity, Multilateralism and Peace

In a video message for an online event on fraternity, multilateralism and peace in response to  Pope Francis’ encyclical letter “Fratelli tutti”, the keynote speaker Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin encouraged nations to pursue arms control and nuclear disarmament as a means to promote peace and fraternity among all people. “It is not rhetorical to say that war is the antithesis of fraternity” he said.

He stated that the Holy See strongly encourages states to work toward lasting agreements on disarmament and arms control. “If the affirmation that we are all brothers and sisters is valid, how can nuclear deterrence be the basis of an ethic of fraternity and peaceful coexistence among peoples?” he asked.

The high-level online event was co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the Order of Malta to the United Nations, the International Catholic Migration Commission, the Pontifical Lateran University, the Caritas in Veritate Foundation and the Forum of Catholic-inspired NGOs. (ERI is a member of the NGO Forum)

An indication of the importance of the message of the encyclical can be gained from the list of speakers during the event which included:-

Ms. Tatiana Valovoya, Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva;

Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO);

Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC);

Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR);

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) and

Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

Cardinal Parolin said in his address at the opening of the event that “the huge sums of money and human resources allocated to armaments make us reflect”.

“The disproportion between material resources and human talents dedicated to the service of death and the resources dedicated to the service of life is a cause for scandal,” he said.

A recording of the event can be viewed here.