'Europe, Real Europe, is what the world needs'

Pope Francis speaking in Lisbon ahead of World Youth Day in Lisbon

@catholicarena

🐣 🇻🇦 🇵🇹 In Portugal, Pope Francis challenges Europe to invest in young people, not weapons

He went on to mention other key issues challenging Europe today. He singled out the fact that “in today’s evolved world, paradoxically, the defense of human life [is] menaced by a creeping utilitarianism has now become a priority.”

“I think of so many unborn children,” he continued, “and older persons who are abandoned, of the great challenge of welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating those who come from afar and knock on our doors, and the isolation felt by so many families that find it hard to bring children into the world and raise them.”

Faced with this reality, Pope Francis said: “Here too, we might ask: Where are you sailing, Europe and the West, with the discarding of the elderly, walls of barbed wire, massive numbers of deaths at sea and empty cradles? Where are you sailing if, before life’s ills, you offer hasty but mistaken remedies: like easy access to death, a convenient answer that seems ‘sweet’ but is in fact more bitter than the waters of the sea?” Portugal’s government voted last year to decriminalize euthanasia, joining the growing number of European countries that have legalized or are debating legalizing assisted suicide.

Pope Francis, who is exploring ways to end the conflict in Ukraine and in other parts of the world, told his audience: “Looking with deep love for Europe, and in the spirit of dialogue that distinguishes this continent, we must ask her: Where are you sailing if you do not show the world paths of peace, creative ways for bringing an end to the war in Ukraine and the many other conflicts that are causing so much bloodshed?”

Young people "urge us to make their dreams come true, and they are taking to the streets, not to cry out in anger, but to share the hope of the Gospel." He reminded them of the words of one of Portugal’s most famous poets, Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935), who said, “to set sail is necessary, to live is not…. What is important is to create.”

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2023/08/02/pope-francis-portugal-wyd-peace-europe-245779

Ukrainian-Russian war. Day 527:
During the last few days there have been reports that the Ukrainian Army retook the last Russian positions west of Zherebets river. The truth is that the front has remained unchanged during the last days as Russian troops managed to stop the new Ukrainian reinforcements. In parallel, Russian Army resumed attacks on various axes of the northeastern front, making small advances.
In social networks the lie of the "Russian offensive of 100,000 troops" continues. Nothing could be further from the truth, as it has been said on numerous occasions Russian army is on the defensive & any Russian offensive of great caliber is not foreseen in the coming months. What we are observing these days is a series of attacks aimed at diverting Ukrainian troops from southern & eastern front where they were making a series of territorial gains in recent weeks. As a consequence Ukrainian army has reduced its offensive actions while waiting for new reserve troops from the center & west of the country.

On the other hand, the possible response of the Ukrainian troops is an increase of activities on the border between Kharkov and Belgorod in order to divert Russian resources towards their border in view of the possibility of further incursions into their territory.

Ukrainian-Russian war. Day 528:
Situation west of Donetsk: During the last hours Russian Army restarted advances towards Krasnogórivka/Красногорівка and not only retook the previously captured position by Ukrainian Army but also new positions located in the 2014 defense line.
Map: [ https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1V8NzjQkzMOhpuLhkktbiKgodOQ27X6IV&ll=47.988891831940464%2C37.53366618493426&z=13 ]

🇳🇬 🇳🇪 The Moment Nigerian Senators Reject Tinubu, ECOWAS Military Action on Niger Republic

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