Pope Francis urges world to unite against 'scandalous injustice' and hunger

Pontiff calls on religions to counter extremism in address to 200 inter-faith leaders in Bahrain

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  Pope Francis leads Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, in Bahrain. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  The cathedral is the largest in the region. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Pope Francis stressed the need for the world to cast aside self interest and political ideologies to address injustice and world hunger. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Priests light candles during the Pope's visit. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  The pontiff greets priests. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  The leader of the world's Catholics also took aim at the growing divide between the rich and poor. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  There's always time for a selfie. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Pope Francis writes in the visitors' book at the cathedral. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Pope Francis greets the attendees as he enters at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, Bahrain. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Members of the choir sing as they await the arrival of the Pope. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Priests and worshippers wait for the Pope. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al Azhar Dr Ahmed El Tayeb speak at a meeting of the Muslim Council of Elders. Reuters

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  Pope Francis and Dr Ahmed El Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar, attend a meeting with council members at the mosque in Sakhir Palace. AP

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  Pope Francis and the Grand Imam attend a meeting with the members of the council in the courtyard of the mosque at Sakhir Palace. Reuters

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  Pope Francis arrives at the mosque at Sakhir Palace, alongside the Grand Imam of Al Azhar. AFP

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  The cathedral slowly fills before the Pope’s arrival. A friar speaks after the choir finishes singing a hymn. Faisal Salah / The National

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  Pope Francis meets the Grand Imam of Al Azhar mosque near the Sakhir Royal Palace in Bahrain. AFP

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  The Pope meets the Grand Imam, Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb. Reuters

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  Pope Francis meets Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, in Bahrain. AFP

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  Pope Francis and King Hamad attend the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue at the Sakhir Royal Palace. Reuters

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  Dr Ahmed El Tayeb delivers a speech at the palace in Manama. AFP

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  King Hamad, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad and Pope Francis attend the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue at the Sakhir Palace. Reuters

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  Pope Francis, King Hamad and other dignitaries at a ceremony at the palace. AFP

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  Onlookers film on their phones as Pope Francis attends the closing session of the dialogue. AP Photo

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  The Royal Bahraini Air Force flies the flags of Vatican City and Bahrain. Reuters

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  Pope Francis attends the closing ceremony of the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue at Sakhir Palace. Reuters

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  Bahrain's King Hamad, right, and Dr Ahmed El Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, talk as they wait for the arrival of the Pope at the closing session of the forum. AP

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  Security officers wait for the Pope to arrive. AP Photo

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  The theme of the forum was 'East and West for Human Co-existence'. Reuters

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  More than 200 global faith leaders and scholars took part in the conference. Reuters

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  Discussions covered the role of religious heads in addressing global challenges, as well as interfaith dialogue as a way to ensure world peace. Reuters

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  The Pope was scheduled to speak at the closing session of the forum.

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  Guests arrive for the closing ceremony of the forum. Reuters

Pope Francis made an impassioned plea for urgent action on “scandalous global injustice” and the “shameful scourge of hunger” on the second day of his landmark tour of Bahrain.

The pontiff spoke out about his concerns over self interest and political ideologies taking precedence over the crucial need for the world to unite to tackle its most pressing challenges head on.

He was addressing more than 200 inter-faith leaders and government officials during the closing session of the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence.

The pope said the stark choice facing the global community was to row together or drift alone into an uncertain future.

“It is a striking paradox that, while the majority of the world’s population is united in facing the same difficulties, suffering from grave food, ecological and pandemic crises, as well as an increasingly scandalous global injustice, a few potentates are caught up in a resolute struggle for partisan interests, reviving obsolete rhetoric, redesigning spheres of influence and opposing blocs,” Pope Francis said at an open-air gathering in the grounds of the Sakhir Royal Palace.

“We are playing with fire, missiles and bombs, weapons that bring sorrow and death, covering our common home with ashes and hatred.”

In a thought-provoking speech, he warned of bitter consequences if the world continued to hurtle down the road of conflict.

The pontiff urged leaders not to shut out the pleas of ordinary people and said it was imperative to co-operate for the good of all.

“These are the choices before us since, in a globalised world, we only advance by rowing together; if we sail alone, we go adrift,” he said.

Education an urgent priority

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  Pope Francis, flanked by King Hamad and Bahrain's Prince Salman bin Hamad, left, delivers his speech during their meeting at the palace. EPA

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  Pope Francis, centre, is escorted by Bahrain's King Hamad as he leaves the Royal Palace in the capital Manama. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Pope Francis talks with King Hamad as he leaves the palace. AP Photo

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  A general view of the royal guard at the Royal Palace in the capital Manama. AFP

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  The welcome ceremony in the courtyard of Sakhir Royal Palace. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  A marching band performs for Pope Francis at Sakhir Palace. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Vatican clergy leave Sakhir Palace in Bahrain. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Children welcome Pope Francis at Sakhir Palace. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Pope Francis greets people at the palace. Reuters

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  Pope Francis laughs during his meeting with King Hamad. Reuters

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  The pontiff meets Bahraini officials after arriving in the country for a four-day visit. AP

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  Pope Francis arrives at Sakhir Palace, south of Manama, in an electric Fiat. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Pope Francis arrives at Sakhir Palace. Reuters

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  Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad arrives before Pope Francis's arrival in Manama. Reuters

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  The audience waits for the arrival of Pope Francis at Sakhir Palace. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  A band performs traditional music on the road between the airport and the Royal Palace in Manama. AFP

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  Schoolchildren prepare to welcome Pope Francis at Sakhir Palace. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Pope Francis greets journalists onboard the flight from Rome to Manama. AFP

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  Pope Francis boards a plane at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport on Thursday for his visit to Bahrain. AP

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  An Airbus A330-202 with the Pope on board prepares to take off from Rome for the four-day trip to Bahrain. AFP

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  Pope Francis, seated on a wheelchair, is lifted on a platform to board the plane. AFP

The pope said that extremist thought thrived in spaces where education was allowed to lie dormant.

“For where opportunities for education are lacking, extremism increases and forms of fundamentalism take root,” he said.

“Yet if ignorance is the enemy of peace, education is the friend of development.

“An education that is not rigid and monolithic, but open to challenges and sensitive to cultural changes; not self-referential and isolating, but attentive to the history and culture of others; not stagnant, but inquisitive and open to embracing different and essential aspects of the one human family to which we belong.”

Tolerant values must be put into action

He listed education and employment of women and protection of the rights of children among key priorities.

“It is not enough to say we are tolerant: we really have to make room for others, granting them rights and opportunities,” the pontiff said.

The approach, he said, begins with education and is one that the world's religions can support.

Bringing faiths together

The historic signing of the Document of Human Fraternity during the papal visit to Abu Dhabi in 2019 helped pave the way for greater harmony and understanding between all faiths.

The pope said all forms of religion must stand against hatred and violence carried out in its name.

“For it is not enough to proclaim that a religion is peaceful; we need to condemn and isolate the perpetrators of violence who abuse its name,” Pope Francis said.

“Nor is it enough to distance ourselves from intolerance and extremism; we need to counter them."

The pope quoted sections from the Document of Human Fraternity that highlighted how it was necessary to stop financial support to terrorist movements.

“On the stormy sea of conflicts, let us keep before our eyes the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, which calls for a fruitful encounter between West and East,” he said in his address.

“We are here, as men and women who believe in God and in our brothers and sisters, to reject isolating thinking.

“We want the divergences between East and West to be settled for the good of all.”

He dwelt on the clash between the East and West and how religious leaders could promote dialogue as the uniting path.

“Tragically, East and West increasingly resemble two opposing seas. We, on the other hand, are here together because we all intend to set sail on the same waters, choosing the route of encounter rather than that of confrontation,” he said.

“After two terrible world wars, a Cold War that for decades kept the world in suspense, catastrophic conflicts taking place in every part of the globe, and in the midst of accusations, threats and condemnations, we continue to find ourselves on the brink of a delicate precipice and we do not want to fall.”

While he did not specify the countries, the Russian-Ukraine war and conflicts in other nations were the background to his call to renounce violence and address poverty.

Bahrain's quest for peace

The Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration, launched in 2017, is a call to fight extremism and terrorism and boost moderation, tolerance and peace.

Stressing the need for self-examination, Pope Francis read out sections of the declaration that commits to protection and respect of places of worship and unhindered prayer.

He spoke out against all forms of religious coercion and how recognising freedom of worship would help reject rigidity, narrow-mindedness and violence.