"As a spur to awaken the consciences of all those in the world who are called to create a climate of dialogue and fraternity that can promote significant changes in the current social and political circumstances", Pope Francis described the figure of José Martí, in a message sent on the occasion of the 5th International Conference for the Balance of the World, which took place in Havana until January 28.
In his message, published by the Vatican, the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church emphasized that our gaze should not focus so much on what each one of us, with the best of intentions, could propose, but on the absolute need to sit down and listen to others.
He stressed the urgency of building bridges, all based on dialogue and with the broad horizon of fraternity. The Holy Father also recalled the words of José Martí before the tomb of the venerable Félix Varela, of whom he admired "his love for his land and his gallantry in denouncing what he considered incompatible with the social good", and pointed out how he was able to gather wills for a common effort.
The highest representative of the Catholic Church called "to put the word 'together' back at the center"; because "it is together, in fraternity and solidarity, that we can build peace, guarantee justice and overcome the most painful events".
"This is the key to recover the balance that gives its name to your meeting, because only together can we face the various moral, social, political and economic crises that we suffer and that are all interconnected", he concluded.
The 5th International Conference began with the keynote lecture José Martí and the balance of the world, by Dr. Eduardo Torres Cuevas, director of the Office of the Martí Program.
Translated by ESTI
