Pope Francis on El Salvador's woes
In an address yesterday, Pope Francis stated:
I am following with deep concern the news coming from El Salvador where recently the suffering of the population has worsened owing to the famine, the economic crisis, social clashes and growing violence. I encourage the beloved people of El Salvador to persevere united in hope and urge everybody to pray in order that justice and peace can flower once again in the land of the Blessed Oscar Romero.”In the same address, after reflecting on the anniversary of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the pope stated:
Above all, this sad anniversary urges us to pray and strive for peace, to spread brotherhood throughout the world and a climate of peaceful coexistence between peoples. May one cry rise up from every land, ‘No’ to war and violence and ‘Yes’ to dialogue and to peace. With war one always loses. The only way to win a war is never to wage it.
Comments
The second thing that struck me is the order in which Francis listed the perceived problems: "famine, the economic crisis, social clashes and growing violence." There may be nothing to it; maybe he just made a random list. But if he did not, it is very interesting that he lists poverty and social inequality first (what this translation renders as "social clashes" can also be translated as "social contrasts"), and he leaves violence for last. I know many Salvadorans would dispute that ranking, as violence figures first and foremost in their dread hierarchy. It will be interesting to see how the Salvadoran Catholic Church construes this language.