Pope expresses ‘closeness’ to church attacked in Turkey

Pope Francis declared this Sunday his “closeness” to the Italian Catholic Church in Istanbul, where an attack took place that left one person dead.

“I express my closeness to the community of the Church of Santa Maria Draperis in Istanbul, which during a mass mass was subjected to an armed attack, as a result of which one person was killed and several were injured,” the leader of the Catholic Church said after the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Basilica. Square in the Vatican.

The pope also warned of “currents” that are “suffocating” the freedom of mankind, and mentioned, among other things, vices, fashion, fear, intolerance and idolatry of power.

“We must be careful of the “chains” that stifle our freedom,” such as “addictions that make us slaves, always unsatisfied and devouring energy, goods and affections” and “dominant fashions that push us towards impossible perfectionism.” consumerism and hedonism, which turn people into commodities and distort their relationships,” he addressed thousands of believers gathered in St. Peter’s Square to listen to him.

There are also “temptations and conditioning that undermine self-esteem, peace of mind and the ability to choose and love life; there is fear, which makes us look into the future with pessimism, and intolerance, which always places the blame on others,” he said. explained.

“And there is the idolatry of power, which creates conflict and resorts to killing weapons or uses economic injustice and manipulation of thinking,” he added.