Peace requires addressing theinjustices that are the root causes of conflict said PopeFrancis on Wednesday in a message to the 2024 World EconomicForum in Davos, urging business and world leaders to ensure thateconomic development benefits everyone and remains tied tosolidarity.
"It is my hope that the participants in this year's Forum willbe mindful of the moral responsibility that each of us has inthe fight against poverty, the attainment of an integraldevelopment for all our brothers and sisters, and the quest fora peaceful coexistence among peoples," said the pope.
"The peace for which the peoples of our world yearn cannot beother than the fruit of justice," he continued.
"Consequently, it calls for more than simply setting aside theinstruments of war; it demands addressing the injustices thatare the root causes of conflict."These, he said, include hunger and the exploitation of naturalresources, as well as the "widespread exploitation of men,women, and children forced to work for low wages and deprived ofreal prospects for personal development and professionalgrowth".
"How is it possible that in today's world people are still dyingof hunger, being exploited, condemned to illiteracy, lackingbasic medical care, and left without shelter?" Francis asked.
The pope urged the leaders present to pursue an "authentic"model of development that is "shared by all nations, and inevery part of the world", on pain of regression "even in areasmarked hitherto by constant progress."
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