Testo originale del articolo in inglese qui
"Solidarity means overcoming the disastrous achievements of selfishness to give way to the value of caring. In this sense, solidarity is a means to make history.". This is one of the key points of the speech delivered by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, at the International Conference on Cohesion Societies (ICCS), which opened today in Singapore.
A society is cohesive, he said, if it pursues the goal of forming individuals capable of relating to each other and of transcending the individualism of the self to embrace the diversity of the self. According to Parolin, in order to achieve the goal of a cohesive and caring society, we must be promoters and co-responsible for solidarity; build solidarity by focusing on the talent, commitment and leadership of young people; solidarity to create welcoming cities, that is "rich in humanity and hospitality, in the measure in which we are able to take care of ourselves and help those in need; and if we are able to commit ourselves in a constructive and cooperative way for the benefit of all.".
The cardinal also insisted on the need to recognize the problems of others and on the importance of closeness and generosity when involved in the care of others. In this way, solidarity will be a hallmark of history.
Dalla polarizzazione alla coesione
These are the keys to addressing the risk factors of a cohesive society, where cohesion goes beyond racial and religious harmony to include migration and multiculturalism, social and economic conflict, digital divide and intergenerational relations. These issues influence the tenacity and solidarity between individuals and communities, according to Professor Lily Kong, president of Singapore Management University.
The conference is organized at the Raffles City Convention Center by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth of the Asian country. Under the slogan "Secure Identities, Connected Communities" this three-day event, inaugurated by the President of Singapore, Halimah Yacob, brings together more than 800 delegates from over 40 countries around three fundamental pillars: faith, identity and cohesion.
Sessioni previste
Three plenary sessions have been programmed: the first is dedicated to "How faith can heal divisions", with the aim of investigating the reasons for the increase and persistence of social polarization due to ideological or religious convictions. Promote peace and interreligious dialogue. The second plenary session is focused on "How to enjoy diversity for the common good". The idea is to focus on tools and concepts to understand a world marked by "super diversity", that is, by the existence of very complex and heterogeneous societies, with the hope of promoting authentic laws, even from different positions and attitudes, for the common good.
Finally, there is the session on "How technology can be used to promote mutual trust": digital platforms can create rooms of trust for divisive scopes, in the absence of social cohesion. The aim is to show how online platforms can be a source of cohesion and hope, rather than a vector of division and hatred.
