
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi talks about the search for peace
Stefano Zecchi: Florentine, politician, writer and journalist has always lived in Florence. His efforts in recent years have been aimed at publicizing writers and books, through presentations that are never trivial and always well attended, as well as interviews, here we publish an interview of his with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who are holding prominent positions in the political, cultural, and ecclesial scene in Italy.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi talks about the search for peace
"We look for what unites to solve what divides. Preparing the dialogue is almost more important than the dialogue itself, a bit like creating the system that can then allow the solution to be found." In his Bologna we met with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, President of the Italian Bishops' Conference, who despite his countless commitments welcomed us with his fraternal, helpful style, a style that conveys credibility and hope. With him we addressed some issues of close relevance.
Bishop Matthew, this year has been a busy year for you. It has been almost two years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. At the behest of Pope Francis you have been talking to the great of the earth, you have been to the United States, to Kiev, to Moscow, to Beijing. What glimmer of hope is there for a ceasefire? For a just peace?
"Hope urges us to look for the keys to peace where they are fake, often just where there is no light or where it is not easy, in the dark, in a difficult condition, facing the "reasons" that generated the war. Peace, however, must always be sought. It doesn't come if we don't believe it is possible and if we don't look for the fragments hidden in each one that we have to reassemble together. We look for what unites to solve what divides. Preparing the dialogue is almost more important than the dialogue itself, a bit like creating the system that can then allow the solution to be found (...)"
We are getting used to war, just as we are getting used, unfortunately, to the daily deaths in the Mediterranean, a graveyard of death, as Pope Francis tells us. How can we not get used to it? Is a third world war imminent with this unstoppable this arms race?
"The risk of habituation is very high. It occurs to me that it is like a defense mechanism of the human and collective organism, which cannot bear a prolonged burden of such fear and suffering. Sadly, however, indifference does not make one suffer, and there are so many cheap feel-good products to keep one from thinking (...)"
Stefano Zecchi's interview in full with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, can be read in Rocca No. 19, Oct. 1, 2023
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