Archbishop Rowan: "[We discover] our own humanity as we honour the human dignity of others."
Pope Benedict: "Peace begins with a look of respect that recognises in another man's face a person, regardless of the colour of his skin, nationality, language or religion,"
The Archbishop of Canterbury's words (Times report here: Good riddance to a gruelling decade, says Archbishop of Canterbury ) were set in the context of the failure to deliver so far on the Millenium Development Goals:
And it's true that it has been a terrible and gruelling ten years in all kinds of ways, with terrorism and war and natural disaster and the financial collapse of the last fifteen months. Plenty there to distract us, you might well think.
But before we do shrug our shoulders and lower our expectations, let's not lose sight of one enormous lesson we can learn from the last decade. The truth is that there are fewer and fewer problems in our world that are just local. Suffering and risk spread across boundaries, even that biggest of all boundaries between the rich and the poor. Crises don't stop at national frontiers. It's one thing that terrorism and environmental challenge and epidemic disease have taught us.
We share the risks. The big question is, can we share the hopes and create the possibilities? Because it's when we do share the hopes that we really see what it is to belong together as human beings, discovering our own humanity as we honour the human dignity of others.
The Archbishops words (transcript / video) are here on the his website.
The Popes words according to the Times (Pope Benedict XVI urges 'respect for difference' ) had a similar thrust:
In his first address of the new year Pope Benedict XVI today called for an end to discrimination against "those who are different", saying that children must be brought up to respect their fellow men as brothers rather than seeing them as enemies.
"Peace begins with a look of respect that recognises in another man's face a person, regardless of the colour of his skin, nationality, language or religion," the Pope said in his homily at New Year's Day Mass, held under rainy skies at St Peter's Basilica.
The Pope noted that schools often contained children of different national, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The faces of the children in such schools were "a prophecy of the kind of humanity we are called upon to create: a family of families and peoples".
Children showed that all men were brothers because "despite differences, they
cry and laugh the same way, have the same needs, communicate spontaneously,
play together". He added: "It is important to be educated from an early age
to respect the other, even when the other is different from us." [more]
This message does not appear to be on the Vatican site just yet, but the Popes longer message celebrating the World Day of Peace is there ( If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation )
The Times describes the Archbishops words as "characteristically apocalyptic". I rather suspect they may be very very apposite for us in the year ahead. His observation that "fewer and fewer problems in our world that are just local" is true. Within seconds of a tweet the world know what is going on in my street, and I know about your street. Thus: “the needs of our neighbours are the needs of the whole human family.” And at that point we can only turn to the words of the scriptures to love our neighbour as ourselves.
Please God help us do that in Luton this year. This was our statement in May this year in the face of rising tensions in the town and the then impending European elections:
As Muslims and Christians in Luton we are committed to grow in
understanding of each other and to work together for good. In doing so
we are inspired and challenged by words that lie at the heart of each
of our Holy Scriptures, where we are commanded to love God and love our
neighbour. As neighbours in this town, we need to discover the things
that unite us, and celebrate those. Where we are different we are
committed to seek understanding and trust, rather than resorting to
hatred and strife. Let us respect each other, be fair, just and kind to
one another and live in sincere peace, harmony and mutual goodwill.
[ Christians and Muslims Working together for Peace and Unity in Luton ]
I pray it can be true in 2010.
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