This archive report was first published on 1 January 2022.
On New Year's Day, Pope Francis celebrated mass at the Vatican, calling for global peace and condemning violence against women as an insult to God.
Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace, the 85-year-old pontiff emphasized the importance of concrete actions to achieve peace, including attention to the most vulnerable, forgiveness, and promoting justice.
Francis also highlighted the need for a positive outlook, focusing on the good that unites people rather than the evil that divides them.
He urged people to 'roll up their sleeves' to build peace, rather than getting depressed or complaining.
Earlier in the day, Francis celebrated a mass in honor of the Virgin Mary, where he called violence against women an insult to God and emphasized the importance of protecting women and promoting their dignity.
As part of the World Day of Peace celebrations, Francis recommended education, labor, and intergenerational dialogue as key building blocks for peace.
He also highlighted the need for economic policies that prioritize education over military spending, citing the increased military spending beyond Cold War levels.
Francis has spent much of his papacy highlighting economic inequality, the plight of migrants, and the environment, and he returned to these themes following his Angelus prayer on Saturday.
He noted that the world is still living in uncertain and difficult times due to the pandemic, and many people are frightened about the future and burdened by social problems, personal problems, and global economic imbalances.
On New Year's Eve, Francis did not preside over vespers at St Peter's Basilica as planned, instead turning the service over to the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re.
