Pope Francis delivered his “State of the World” address at the annual Audience for Members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See on Jan. 9. In no uncertain terms, given the realities of the world situation, he called upon world leaders to follow a diplomacy of hope based on truth, forgiveness, freedom, and justice.
At the beginning of 2025 the world is torn by numerous conflicts, acts of terror, societal tensions, and the creation of new barriers that divide people. Francis urged: “My prayerful hope for this new year is that the Jubilee may represent for everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike, an opportunity also to rethink the relationships that bind us to one another, as human beings and political communities. But also to overcome the logic of confrontation and embrace instead the logic of encounter; so that the future does not find us hopelessly adrift, but pressing forward as pilgrims of hope, individuals and communities on the move, committed to building a future of peace.”
