SA国际传媒

By Lisa Zengarini

In a time of global political and social crises, our interconnected world needs more than ever today 鈥渢o build bridges that can help us find viable solutions together that do not exclude anyone鈥�.

The Conference

Pope Francis reiterated this stance in a message addressed on Tuesday to participants at the Fifth International Conference for SA国际传媒 Balance, gathered in La Habana, Cuba,  from 24-28 January to discuss the current pressing international issues and challenges threatening world peace in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The conference brings together, every three years, world thinkers, political and religious leaders, journalists, educators, writers, and, scientists, to discuss issues of peace and social justice.

It is convened by the 鈥淛osé Martí Project for SA国际传媒 Solidarity鈥�, a Cuban think-tank named after the Cuban thinker and national hero José Martí, which has been organizing the event since 2003 under the auspices of the UNESCO and other international organizations. This year鈥檚 event commemorates the 170th birth of José Martí reflecting on his legacy today.

Listening to others and learning from our elders

In his message Pope Francis insists that changes to the current world situation can be achieved only though dialogue and fraternity and 鈥渓istening to others鈥�.

He further remarks that the ability to improve our world also comes from learning from those who came before us. Recalling the respect José Martí had for another Cuban patriot that preceded him, Venerable Father Félix Varela, Pope Francis notes that his admiration for the Cuban priest鈥檚 courage in denouncing injustice and his meek respect for others 鈥渟hows the importance of not denying our roots, which allow us to learn from our elders鈥�.

Current interconnected crisis can only be addressed together

Pope Francis therefore reiterates the need to 鈥渞estore the word 鈥榯ogether鈥� to a central place鈥�. It is 鈥渢ogether in fraternity and solidarity 鈥� he says, citing his - , that we build peace, ensure justice and emerge from the greatest disasters鈥�, as shown by 鈥渉eroic鈥� efforts made by all those people who worked tirelessly to help everyone emerge from COVID-19 crisis.

鈥淭his 鈥� the Pope concludes - is the key to recovering the balance that gives your meeting its name, because only together we can address the several moral, social, political and economic crises we are enduring  and that are all interconnected鈥�.