For anyone watching or reading the news, we are in one of the most worrying times since the end of the Cold War. Awful and destructive conflict in Gaza and the West Bank, along with regular attacks across the Middle East in the likes of Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. Then there is the ongoing nightmare of the Russian invasion of Ukraine with day after day of deadly drone attacks and grinding battles on a front across southern Ukraine.
And there are many conflicts elsewhere that rarely make the headlines in the likes of Myanmar, Sudan, Ethiopia and terrorist insurgencies across many countries, such as Christians regularly being killed in Nigeria by followers of the group Boko Haram, inevitably creating then revenge attacks.
At the same time, the threat of major conflict outside Ukraine has seen all NATO members, under significant American pressure, start raising their defence budgets markedly, most pledging that 5% of national GDP will go on defence expenditure. In the UK this sees billions planned for our Trident nuclear weapons programme, on developing other weapons of mass destruction such as drones, new warplanes and cyber warfare.
As a keen reader of history, I find this current period one of the most turbulent and scary, particularly as the ‘rules based order’ of diplomacy has been dumped by the likes of President Trump and President Putin.
On the other side of this, actively demonstrating opposition to such actions has become more difficult. The previous government brought in legislation making peaceful demonstration much more challenging – in an unnecessary kneejerk response to the likes of Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil – and the current government have followed up in their recent ban of the group Palestine Action, prescribing them in the same manner as a terrorist group.
So, what should be our response as Christians to all of this pain and misery? An obvious response by many people is to try and ignore it in a feeling of hopelessness and powerlessness. It is immensely hard to watch the daily news and see all this thoughtless death and destruction.
But we need to ponder daily what Jesus would do, and I think he would want us always to stand up and be counted. But what to do?
I have some Catholic Christian friends who have got heavily involved in some non-violent direct action, some being arrested for supporting Palestine Action, or doing some more militant action as part of the campaign to tackle climate change. If your conscience allows that, and you can deal with any of the consequences that comes from that, then stand up for what you believe in.
Certainly, go on one of the regular demonstrations supporting the Palestinians, and do get involved in the climate change movement in many different ways, big and small. And join groups like Pax Christi, Sabeel International or the many local groups supporting Ukrainians living in the region.
Taking effective action reduces the feeling of hopelessness and powerlessness and you are actively standing up for peace and justice. But do be careful with yourself, take care with your mental health as these issues can really overwhelm you.
Just as important can be to write to your MP telling them that doing nothing is no option. Call them to stand up and be counted. Recent rebellions over welfare policy came about as MPs knew the high levels of public discontent, so it is a much more valuable tool than sometimes we think it is. And continue to get involved supporting foodbanks, assisting refugee and asylum seekers groups with practical aid and financial support.
Never be afraid to speak out either, it is again what Jesus would do. But do be aware not everyone is as clued in to these issues as other, and try and educate them with wisdom and kindness, even when that can feel very hard to do.
And above all, keep these people in your hearts, minds and prayers.
As Jesus says to the disciples:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Luke 11:10 – 11).
As this lovely prayer from St Jane Frances de Chantal says:
“Every person is a child of God, who loves them infinitely: it is, therefore, impossible to want to love God, without loving human beings – the more one loves God, the more one loves people. The love of God, the love of people, is my whole life; it will be my whole life, I hope.”
That is the hope I hold on to in these challenging and hard times. Jesus insisted on saying blessed is the peacemaker, as we are true sons and daughters of God.
By loving our neighbour, challenging them where we need to, and standing up for those that ask for our help, we can make a difference, and do what our faith tells us to do.
Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected pope and will be known as Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV holds dual citizenship in both the US and Peru where he served as a bishop. He spent much of his career as a missionary in South America where he is fondly remembered as a figure who worked with marginalised communities and helped build bridges in the local Church.
He is the first American to become pontiff and will lead the Catholic global community of 1.4 billion people.
One of the first acts of a new pope is to choose a new name, changing their baptismal one. Over the years, popes have often chosen the names to refer to previous pontiffs for example, Pope Francis said his name honoured St Francis of Assisi. Once elected, the name that a chosen pope takes is often seen as a sign of their focus and direction for their papacy. It can signal continuity or a break with the past and suggest whether the new leader of the Catholic Church is progressive or traditionalist.
The previous Pope Leo XIII was pope at the end of the 19th century, he died in 1903. He was a determined defender of the rights of workers and is remembered as a pope who was dedicated to social policies and social justice. He laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought, addressing workers' rights and capitalism at the dawn of the industrial age. He is particularly known for issuing an encyclical - a letter sent to bishops of the Church - called "Rerum Novarum", a Latin expression which means "Of New Things".
Robert Francis Prevost has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He was ordained a priest in June 1982 and studied canon law at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, five years later, he received his doctorate.
He was received into the Augustinian religious order in 1977. The Order of St Augustine was formed in the 13th century as a community of “mendicant” friars dedicated to poverty, service and evangelisation. It has a presence in about 50 countries, and its ethos includes a contemplative spirituality, communal living and service to others.
Pope Leo first went to Peru as a missionary in 1985, returning to the US in 1986 as vocations director in the Augustinians. In 1988, he returned to Peru for about a decade in the city of Trujillo, before returning to the US for a leadership role with the Augustinians in 1999. He returned to Peru in 2014 and was installed as the bishop of Chiclayo in September 2015. He also became a Peruvian citizen in 2015.
In taking the name Leo XIV, the indications include a commitment to social issues. He is reportedly very close to Francis's vision regarding the environment, outreach to the poor and migrants.
Pope Leo was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023 and appointed to a powerful position, responsible for selecting new bishops. Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms when three women were added to the voting bloc which decides on the bishop nominations sent to the Pope. He also supported Pope Francis's stance on allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Holy Communion. However, he only showed mild support for allowing priests to bless same-sex couples.
As Cardinal he said in 2024,
"the bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom"
Appearing on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, his first words outlined a vision of a "missionary" Church which "builds bridges, which holds dialogues, which is always open".
He also echoed his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, in calling for peace.
Faithful God,
You guide us on the path of life
and your goodness is our constant companion.
Be with our new Shepherd, Pope Leo XIV,
in his service of the Church.
Fill him with the power of your Spirit,
the peace of your presence
and the compassion of Christ.
May he walk with you,
in wisdom and humility,
and lead us, together with all God’s people,
to embody your love for the world.
Amen.
A prayer to welcome Pope Leo XIV from CAFOD Director, Christine Allen
Modern-day Slaves are significantly exploited by their employers. A high proportion are sex workers. Women are therefore more likely to be slaves than men. Charities working in this sector estimate that there are about 122,000 people currently living in the UK who are Modern-day Slaves.
The Government established a Care Workers Visa to enable workers from abroad to pay for visas to come here to work in what are often minimum wage jobs. Sadly, some employment agencies saw this as an opportunity to make lots of money and advertised Care Work jobs in the UK. Those applying did not realise that there could be times when no work would be available.
Visa holders cannot claim unemployment benefits or work for other employers. This gives their employers greater power. Significant numbers of these new Care Workers started to call the Modern-day Slavery Advice Lines due to the exploitation they suffered; forced to work long hours, pay for training/accommodation/uniform and to work anywhere.
The Visa rules have been changed each year to reduce the factors contributing to this exploitation. But the exploitation continues.
I know of one family where the mother got a Care Worker Visa, her husband and children got Dependent Visas. The family came expecting to be more financially secure than they had been in Africa. With both parents working full-time for the minimum wage the family could just about provide for themselves.
But the mother’s full-time care work soon stopped. Her agency could then provide her with only part-time work. Her sponsor offered her a temporary, full-time job 200 miles away. She had to take it to feed her family. When that job ended they offered part-time work in the same city. The family were desperate.
Her family will not be more secure until she finds a local employer who has a job in their own Care Home and who will pay to sponsor her. It is very difficult to find such jobs. Life in the UK is not what the family imagined. Their livelihood as insecure as it was in Africa.
In Hope, the Pope says
‘Every Christian is called upon to be an instrument of God for the liberation of all people and the advancement of the poor. This implies more than a few sporadic acts of generosity. It presumes a new mindset that thinks in terms of community.’
UK Slavery still happens. We know that as a country we do not have enough income to pay for all the services we expect. Poverty is a political choice. The Government are responsible for allocating their income for the good of all. Parties accept that the Care Sector is not working effectively.
Maybe in response to the Pope’s plea for a new mindset we should each think about (and talk about) what we consider to be fair share of the costs of our own care?
We must not be distracted by arguments about promises of no tax rises. There must be radical changes if the Care Sector is to become sustainable without the risk of Modern-day Slavery.
For more information:
ACAS have a good website that explains employee rights.
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Robert Francis Prevost has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He was ordained a priest in June 1982 and studied canon law at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, five years later, he received his doctorate.
In taking the name Leo XIV, the indications include a commitment to social issues. He is reportedly very close to Francis's vision regarding the environment, outreach to the poor and migrants.
