{"id":301017,"date":"2019-08-09T11:41:49","date_gmt":"2019-08-09T15:41:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/?p=301017"},"modified":"2019-08-09T11:41:49","modified_gmt":"2019-08-09T15:41:49","slug":"pope-francis-a-country-must-be-sovereign-not-closed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/2019\/08\/pope-francis-a-country-must-be-sovereign-not-closed\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Francis: ‘A country must be sovereign, not closed’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

In a new interview<\/a><\/strong>, the Holy Father spoke about the upcoming Amazon synod, and a variety of other timely topics:<\/p>\n

The upcoming Synod of Bishops on the Amazon is an \u201curgent\u201d gathering, not of scientists and politicians, but for the church whose main focus in discussions will be evangelization, Pope Francis said in a new interview.<\/p>\n

However, the importance of the Amazon region\u2019s biodiversity and current threats it faces also will be addressed because \u201ctogether with the oceans, (the Amazon) contributes decisively to the survival of the planet. Much of the oxygen we breathe comes from there. That\u2019s why deforestation means killing humanity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The pope also talked about the dangers of surging nationalism and isolationist sentiments, saying, \u201cI am worried because you hear speeches that resemble those by Hitler in 1934. \u2018Us first, We\u2026 We \u2026.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Such thinking, he said, \u201cis frightening.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pope\u2019s comments came in an interview posted Aug. 9 by \u201cVatican Insider,\u201d the online news supplement to the Italian newspaper La Stampa.<\/p>\n

Asked about the dangers of \u201csovereignism\u201d or nationalism, the pope said it represented an attitude of \u201cisolation\u201d and closure.<\/p>\n

\u201cA country must be sovereign, but not closed\u201d inside itself, he said.<\/p>\n

National sovereignty, he said, \u201cmust be defended, but relations with other countries, with the European community, must also be protected and promoted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSovereignism,\u201d on the other hand, he continued, is something that goes \u201ctoo far\u201d and \u201calways ends badly \u2014 it leads to war.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked about populism, the pope said it was one thing for people to be able to express their concerns, but quite another \u201cto impose a populist attitude on the people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people are sovereign,\u201d with their own way of thinking, feeling, judging and expressing themselves, he said, \u201cwhile populism leads to forms of sovereignism. That suffix, \u2018\u2013ism,\u2019 is never good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked about \u201cthe right path to take when it comes to migrants,\u201d the pope said, \u201cFirst and foremost, never neglect the most important right of all: the right to life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cImmigrants come above all to escape from war or hunger, from the Middle East and Africa,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

When it comes to war, \u201cwe must make an effort and fight for peace\u201d as well as invest in Africa in ways that help the people there \u201cresolve their problems and thus stop the migration flows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Concerning immigrants already in one\u2019s home country, certain \u201ccriteria must be followed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst, to receive, which is also a Christian, Gospel duty. Doors should be opened, not closed. Second, to accompany. Third, to promote. Fourth, to integrate\u201d the newcomers in the host communities, he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read more.\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

You can find the original interview in La Stampa.\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a new interview, the Holy Father spoke about the upcoming Amazon synod, and a variety of other timely topics: The upcoming Synod of Bishops on the Amazon is an \u201curgent\u201d gathering, not of scientists and politicians, but for the church whose main focus in discussions will be evangelization, Pope Francis said in a new […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":288721,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,45],"tags":[12654,1413],"class_list":["post-301017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pope","category-ripped-from-the-headlines","tag-amazon-synod","tag-pope-francis"],"yoast_head":"\nPope Francis: 'A country must be sovereign, not closed'<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In a new interview, the Holy Father spoke about the upcoming Amazon synod, and a variety of other timely topics: The 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