Pope Francis laments wars, injustices that 'ruined' 2017

Bidding 2017 farewell, Pope Francis on Sunday decried wars, injustices, social and environmental degradation and other man-made ills which he said spoiled the year.

Francis presided at a New Year's Eve prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica, a traditional occasion to say thanks in each year's last hours.

Pope Francis holds a monstrance as he celebrates a new year's eve vespers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

In his homily, the pope said God gave to us a "whole and sound" year, but "we humans in so many ways ruined and hurt it with works of death, with lies and injustices."

"The wars are the flagrant sign of this repeated and absurd pride," he said. "But so are all the little and big offenses against life, truth, brotherhood, that cause multiple forms of human, social and environmental degradation."

Francis added: "We want to, and must assume, before God, our brothers and Creation our responsibility" for the harm.

Despite the gloom, Francis said "gratitude prevails" thanks to those who "cooperate silently for the common good." He singled out parents and educators who try to raise young people with a sense of responsible ethics.

Pope Francis stands next to a statue of the Divine Infant as he celebrates a new year's eve vespers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

After the solemn basilica service, Francis strolled outside, briskly crisscrossing St. Peter's Square to shake hands and banter with well-wishers, and kiss babies held by some of the thousands of faithful who waited for hours for a glimpse of him. The evening was warm, and Francis went without the white coat an aide carried for him. During his nearly hour-long walkabout outdoors, he stopped to admire a life-sized Nativity scene in the middle of the square.

In keeping with past practice, the pope will celebrate Mass dedicated to the theme of world peace on New Year's Day.

Pope Francis celebrates a new year's eve vespers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis kisses a statue of the Divine Infant as he celebrates a new year's eve vespers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis celebrates a new year's eve vespers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis arrives to celebrate a new year's eve vespers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis holds a monstrance as he celebrates a new year's eve vespers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis holds a monstrance as he celebrates a new year's eve vespers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis prays in front of the nativity scene after celebrating a new year's eve vespers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis stops to greet the faithful after praying in front of the nativity scene after celebrating a new year's eve vespers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis issued the fourth encyclical of his papacy on Thursday, denouncing a world that “is losing its heart” during times of global turmoil marked by “wars, socio-economic disparities and the uses of technology that threaten our humanity.”

The document titled “Dilexit Nos,” Latin for “He Loves Us,” was issued to coincide with the 350th anniversary of St. Margaret Mary Alocoque's first apparition, which helped spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus revealing his love of humanity.

The social encyclical appeals to the faithful to “meditate” on Jesus’ love in a world in which consumerism and algorithms obscure humanity. It is his fourth encyclical, the best-known of which to date is the 2015 “Laudato Si,” or “Praised Be,” which cast care for the environment in moral terms.

In “Dilexit Nos,” the pontiff did not cite specific examples of global turmoil in the 220-paragraph document issued in eight languages, although he frequently refers to conflicts from Ukraine to Gaza in homilies, weekly prayers and global travels.

Francis often asks for prayers for the “martyred” people of Ukraine and most recently cited “inhumane attacks” in Gaza. In the Middle East conflict, he has tended to take a balanced line, often mentioning Israel and the hostages still held by Hamas alongside the suffering of the Palestinians.

In the document, the pontiff said the failure to “feel that something is intolerable” in the suffering on both sides of conflict “is a sign of a world that has grown heartless.”

“When we witness the outbreak of new wars, with the complicity, tolerance or indifference of other countries, or petty power struggles over partisan interests, we may be tempted to conclude that our world is losing its heart,’’ he wrote.

The pope warned that consumer-driven societies “dominated by the hectic pace and bombarded by technology" risked losing access to an “interior life,” the nature of which requires patience.

He noted that algorithms have revealed that “our thoughts and will are much more ‘uniform’ than we had previously thought. They are easily predictable and thus capable of being manipulated.”

In an era of artificial intelligence, "we cannot forget that poetry and love are necessary to save our humanity,’’ he wrote.

Vatican encyclicals are the most authoritative form of papal teaching and traditionally take their titles from the first two words of the document.

Mons. Bruno Forte, a theologian who is archbishop of the Italian archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto, said the “Dilexit Nos” encyclical "can be truly considered as a summary of everything that Pope Francis has said and wishes to say to our brothers in humanity. He says, ‘God loves you and has shown you in the best way, through Jesus.' ’'

Forte said the document should not be viewed as “just a spiritual refuge,” but as a proposal of “love, mutual reception and forgiveness.”

Monsignor Bruno Forte, right, and Sister Antonella Fraccaro pose for a photo with a copy of the Pope Francis' encyclical titled "Dilexit Nos," Latin for "He Loves Us," after a press conference for its presentation at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Monsignor Bruno Forte talks during a press conference for the presentation of the Pope Francis' encyclical titled "Dilexit Nos," Latin for "He Loves Us," at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

A copy of Pope Francis' encyclical titled "Dilexit Nos," Latin for "He Loves Us," is shown after a press conference for its presentation at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

FILE -Pope Francis attends a session of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops at the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)