蜜桃交友

By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis on Sunday said he is close to the Indian communities of Tamil Nadu and Kerala States in the wake of Cyclone Okhi, and in particular to the families of the many fisherman who have gone missing since the cyclone swept those coastal areas.

Cyclone Okhi

Over 500 fisherman are missing and feared dead since the cyclone struck on November 29^th.  The Catholic Archdiocese of Trivandrum and Tamil Nadu鈥檚 Kottar Diocese told Vatican Radio they are &苍产蝉辫;鈥�very much engaged in the rescue operation and relief work鈥� in collaboration with the state and central governments, and are appealing to draw attention to the emergency which has not received the attention of the international and national media.

The Pope鈥檚 words of closeness and concern came after the recitation of the Angelus Prayer in St. Peter鈥檚 Square.

Nuclear disarmament

Francis also mentioned that the anti-nuclear weapons group chosen to receive the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize will be presented with the award today.

鈥淭his recognition takes place in coincidence with UN Day for Human Rights鈥� the Pope said, 鈥渉ighlighting the strong tie that exists between human rights and nuclear disarmament鈥�.

He went on to say that 鈥渢he commitment towards upholding the dignity of all people, in particular the weakest and most vulnerable, means also working with determination to build a world without nuclear arms鈥�.

鈥淕od gives us the capacity to collaborate in building our common home: we have freedom, intelligence and the capacity to use technology, to limit our power in the service of peace and true progress鈥� he said.

Climate change

Pope Francis also looked ahead to a Summit in Paris on Tuesday: 鈥淥ur Planet Summit鈥� which he said comes two years after the Paris Climate Accord.

鈥淚 strongly hope that his Summit, like others of its kind, may favour the clear awareness on the necessity to implement decisions that are truly effective in contrasting climate change, and in the same time fighting poverty and promoting human development鈥� he said.