President
Michael D. Higgins has praised Pope Francis for this “valuable
contributions” to debates on poverty, justice and peace, saying that he
shares his concerns and supports his appeals.Addressing the Diplomatic Corps on the occasion of the presentation of New Year’s Greetings at Áras an Uachtaráin, President Higgins thanked the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown – who is Dean of the Diplomatic Corps – for his kind wishes, which he said were “especially appreciated” as they come from the representative of Pope Francis.
President Higgins described Pope Francis as a world leader “who is making regular and very valuable contributions to the debate on addressing the global issues of poverty, justice environmental sustainability, the obscene cruelty of wars and the fragility of peace”.
Globalisation
He also praised the Pope’s challenge to world leaders on “a globalisation of indifference” which “makes us slowly inured to the suffering of others and closed in on ourselves, immobilised in face of the challenge of necessary changes”, and for drawing attention to the “destructive consequences of unaccountable economic models”.
The President said he was honoured to attend the inaugural celebration of Pope Francis last March and to “share his concerns and support his appeals”.