A group of Canarians, including prominent public figures, has signed a manifesto on the occasion of the upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV to the archipelago. The papal visit, which begins this Thursday in Gran Canaria and concludes on Friday in Tenerife, has prompted this declaration emphasizing the historical and spiritual significance of the event for the community.
In the text, the signatories express their satisfaction with the teachings of the Supreme Pontiff, focusing on the vocation of service to the needy, the welcome of immigrants, the commitment to world peace, and the use of Artificial Intelligence for the benefit of humanity. They also mention the Educational Alliance for the digital age, the ecology of communication, social justice, and the universal destination of goods, concepts outlined in his latest encyclical 'Magnífica Humanitas'.
The manifesto highlights that the visit of Pope Leo XIV brings a crucial message to the Canary Islands: the active defense of human rights. The signatories advocate for a welcoming, solidary Canary Islands open to universal fraternity, denouncing the genocide of the Palestinian people and defending the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people.
The values of hope and the construction of peace are emphasized against selfishness, the law of the strongest, war, and invasions. The signatories criticize the pretension of being first, reminding that Christians are called to be servants of humanity.
“"The temptation to build collective identity against an enemy reappears, feeding narratives where each person presents themselves as a victim legitimized for revenge. The simplification into an 'me first' scheme, friend-enemy, 'us-them,' facilitates often irresponsible decisions that undermine mutual trust between nations. Thus, the force of international law is replaced by the supposed 'right of the strongest' with devastating consequences for political culture and coexistence."
The document concludes with a quote from Pope Leo XIV warning against the temptation to build collective identities against an enemy, leading to simplification and irresponsible decisions that erode trust between nations, replacing international law with the 'right of the strongest'.
