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Pope Francis on new year’s eve regretted that 2017 was a “wasted” year that was filled with death and lies, harming the environment and humanity as a whole.
Speaking at an evening vespers service in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope said humanity had “wasted and wounded” the past year “in many ways with works of death, with lies and injustices.”
The pontiff singled out wars as the biggest sign of “unrepentant and absurd pride,” but said there were many other offenses that led to “human, social and environmental degradation.”
“We must take responsibility for everything before God, our brothers and our creation,” he said.
The Pope did not reference any specific events or individuals in his remarks. But the stern address closed off a year in which he often spoke out directly against actions that he saw as an affront to humanity.
READ:Â Pope Francis orders distribution of picture of boy carrying his dead brother on his back
Earlier in the day, he authorised the printing and distribution of an image of a boy standing in line with his dead brother strapped to his back, to decry the damaging impact of war.