Pope Leo urges international diplomacy to prevent 'irreparable abyss'
Pope Leo on Sunday said the international community must strive to avoid war that risks opening an 'irreparable abyss', and that diplomacy should take the place of conflict.
US forces struck Iran's three main nuclear sites overnight, joining an Israeli assault in a major new escalation of conflict in the Middle East as Tehran vowed to defend itself.
'Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility: to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss,' Pope Leo said during his weekly prayer with pilgrims.
'No armed victory can compensate for the pain of mothers, the fear of children, the stolen future. Let diplomacy silence the weapons, let nations chart their future with peace efforts, not with violence and bloody conflicts,' he added.
'In this dramatic scenario, which includes Israel and Palestine, the daily suffering of the population, especially in Gaza and other territories, risks being forgotten, where the need for adequate humanitarian support is becoming increasingly urgent,' Pope Leo said.
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IOL News
4 hours ago
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US joins Iran-Israel conflict: Essential travel advisories for South Africans to note
Travellers queue at Cape Town International Airport. Image: David Ritchie/Independent Newspapers (File) The escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, which now includes the United States (US), which carried out attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran on Sunday, has resulted in a number of travel advisories and alerts that SA travellers should note. On Sunday, the US joined Israel's bombing campaign after days of speculation over whether they would be involvedin the conflict. In a televised address from the White House, after the strikes, US President Donald Trump said: "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace." Previously, on 15 June, the Department of International Relations (Dirco) urged all South Africans in Iran to contact the Embassy in Tehran to ensure that they are registered with and that their whereabouts are known to the Embassy. 'It is important to note that South Africa's support in the country is limited and that it could be assumed that no face-to-face consular assistance will be possible in an emergency, and the South African Government may not be able to help you if you get into difficulty, depending on your location. 'Therefore, citizens are further encouraged to assess their own safety and security and act accordingly.' Following Israeli strikes on Iran in the early hours of 13 June, airspace in Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Israel has been closed. According to Flightradar24, the closures affect approximately 3,000 flights per day through cancelled flights or re-routes. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ According to Flightradar24, the closures affect approximately 3,000 flights per day through cancelled flights or re-routes. Image: Flightradar24 Emirates and Qatar Airways are among the few airlines that have issued travel advisories for travellers and have had to suspend their flights. Emirates said on Saturday that due to the regional situation, they have temporarily suspended all flights to Iran (Tehran) and Iraq (Baghdad and Basra), until and including Monday, 30 June 2025. 'Customers connecting through Dubai with final destinations in Iraq and Iran will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice. Customers impacted by flight cancellations must contact their travel agency for rebooking. If booked directly with Emirates, please contact us.' They also urged travellers departing or arriving at Dubai International Airport to check their flight status on for the latest information. 'We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers. We continue to closely monitor developments. The safety of our passengers, employees and operations will always be our top priority.' The Iranian flag is pictured in front of Iran's Foreign Ministry building in Tehran November 23, 2009. Image: Morteza Nikoubazl/Reuters Qatar Airways said they have temporarily cancelled flights to Iran, Iraq and Syria. The affected airports in Iran include Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA), Mashhad Airport (MHD), and Shiraz Airport (SYZ). In Iraq, the affected airports are Baghdad Airport (BGW), Erbil Airport (EBL), Basra Airport (BSR), Sulaymaniyah Airport (ISU) and Najaf Airport (NJF). In Syria, the affected airport is Damascus International Airport (DAM). The United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised against all travel to Iran. 'If you are a British national already in Iran, either resident or visitor, carefully consider your presence there and the risks you take by staying. British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention. Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you,' they said.
TimesLIVE
6 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Pope Leo urges international diplomacy to prevent 'irreparable abyss'
Pope Leo on Sunday said the international community must strive to avoid war that risks opening an 'irreparable abyss', and that diplomacy should take the place of conflict. US forces struck Iran's three main nuclear sites overnight, joining an Israeli assault in a major new escalation of conflict in the Middle East as Tehran vowed to defend itself. 'Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility: to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss,' Pope Leo said during his weekly prayer with pilgrims. 'No armed victory can compensate for the pain of mothers, the fear of children, the stolen future. Let diplomacy silence the weapons, let nations chart their future with peace efforts, not with violence and bloody conflicts,' he added. 'In this dramatic scenario, which includes Israel and Palestine, the daily suffering of the population, especially in Gaza and other territories, risks being forgotten, where the need for adequate humanitarian support is becoming increasingly urgent,' Pope Leo said.
IOL News
6 hours ago
- IOL News
How South African mainstream media fuels xenophobia
Displaced African migrant workers seek refuge at a warehouse, turned into a shelter by a group of volunteers to house migrant workers who fled Israeli bombardment in southern Lebanon. June 20 marked World Refugee Day. Anthony Kambi Masha Foreigners, especially refugees in South Africa, face numerous challenges, including language barriers, discrimination, xenophobia, and financial difficulties. The perception of refugees is often negative, even when the host country benefits from them. Access to public resources is increasingly tied to citizenship and ethnicity, contributing to marginalisation. Refugees lack the power and voice to overcome these boundaries of exclusion and belonging, which hinder their full contribution to economic growth and development. Refugees face language barriers, discrimination, xenophobia, and financial issues. All South African cities have discourse exclusionary practices like name-calling, discrimination, prejudice, and outright violence and intimidation, but Greater Johannesburg has the most anti-refugee xenophobia. Today, there is a dizzying array of labels to describe those who cross an international border. Humiliating and derogatory name-calling such as makwerekwere, amagrigamba, and amaGhana constitutes a form of bullying and classifies xenophobia towards refugees. Other names are alien and mkeres mooo, meaning an intruder. In isiZulu, refugees are referred to as abokufika, which means people who came from elsewhere. While such a designation may not necessarily be underpinned by malicious intentions, it classifies refugees as outsiders who do not belong to their adopted communities. A study of YouTube videos featuring reports of xenophobic incidents in South Africa shows that discourse on xenophobia is based on the us/them dichotomy, emphasising the positive traits of the ingroup and the negative traits of the outgroup (refugees). The media's role in xenophobic behaviour, including discrimination and violence against refugees, is a complex issue. Traditional media still dominates as a source of news and knowledge about refugees in South Africa, with the internet and social media trailing in terms of public trust in information about refugees. The distribution of the public across different forms of media may reflect the wide reach of radio and television across rural and urban areas. The media's reportage of immigration has possibly exacerbated tensions between native South Africans and African migrants in the country. The media's agenda-setting function influences consumer thoughts about refugees, but it does not necessarily control how they think about these things. It plays a huge role in spreading hostility towards refugees, with the deployment of predominantly negative language in South African tabloid and mainstream print media presenting refugees as a threat, aliens, and outsiders. Social media platforms can influence culture, fostering cross-cultural understanding and potentially reinforcing social divisions. However, they can also amplify xenophobia, particularly in communities like South Africa with pre-existing xenophobic sentiment. A study by Dube and Setlalentoa (2024) found that xenophobia is a significant social pathology in South Africa, affecting migrant learners and causing increased incidents, bullying, school violence, and social exclusion in schools. This highlights the risk of intolerance and prejudice in society. The media spreads hate and division, and people believe it. When news stories about refugees are written, only the bad things are shown. Hardly are refugees seen as victims. South Africa's refugee policy allows refugees to seek employment and access basic services, but they often face discrimination and exclusion from the formal labour market. Refugees, especially those from Africa, are sometimes viewed as a burden on the country's resources and are scapegoated for economic problems. Discrepancies across personalised social media feeds often incorporate harmful stereotypes and make implicit assumptions about people that are problematic from the standpoint of representation. This xenophobic sentiment further exacerbates the challenges refugees face in finding employment. Following apartheid, South Africa has experienced a shift in national identity and nationalism, with politicians refraining from endorsing violence. This is fueled by state action and exclusive conceptions of citizenship, including the notion of South African exceptionalism compared to the rest of the continent. Government institutions target illicit refugees, such as the police force, which arrest and harass refugees. The high level of xenophobia is directed at both youth and older persons who happen to find themselves in the country, black African migrants, and refugees. Common stereotypes include allegations that African refugees import diseases and crime, are labelled as people who steal jobs and women, drain the health care system, and other state resources. Physical and systematic xenophobia contribute to refugees' appalling experiences in South Africa. Murray (2013) reveals that the unsettled circumstances of urban living in the "new South Africa" have proven to be a fertile breeding ground for alarmist fantasies about unwanted refugees that occasionally spill over into genuine moral panics. These moral panics arise at times of political instability and uncertainty, and the fear, apprehension, and anxiety linked to urban disorder can be more easily accommodated if traced to an identifiable cause and attached to a particular socially stigmatised menace. Dr A. K. Masha is a social realist and a leadership catalyst. He writes in his personal capacity.
