Vatican launches remarkable initiative jointly named after Pope Francis, Prof Yunus
UNB
Publish: 16 Nov 2024, 03:08 PM
Dhaka,
Nov 16 (UNB) - Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, and
Bangladesh Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus have jointly launched a "Pope
Francis Yunus 3Zero Club" in Rome in an effort to usher in a
transformative and inclusive future for humanity.
The "3Zero
Club" stands as a beacon of hope for the youth in Rome's marginalised
communities, providing a platform to develop innovative ideas and create
concrete and sustainable solutions.
Conveying his
"deepest respects and gratitude," to Pope Francis, Prof Yunus urged
all "to embark on this transformative journey together, inspiring the next
generation to build a civilisation that honours the dignity of every individual
and preserves the sanctity of our planet."
According to the latest
counts, there are at least 4,600 Three Zero clubs across the globe, all
inspired by Prof Yunus's vision for a new civilisation. Many of the clubs are
set up in universities, according to the chief adviser's press wing.
In a letter to the Vicar
General of Rome, Cardinal Baldo Reina, Prof Yunus said he was "deeply
honoured" by the gesture.
He extended his
"heartfelt congratulations" to Cardinal Reina on the occasion.
"This remarkable
initiative embodies the shared vision of Pope Francis and my own aspirations
for a transformative and inclusive future," the 2006 Nobel Peace laureate
said on Saturday.
"This initiative
not only aims to achieve zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon
emissions but also aspires to foster the emergence of a new civilisation-one
grounded in compassion, equity, and sustainability," the chief adviser
wrote.
"A civilisation
where not only should no one be left behind, but where each person can also be
the protagonist of their destiny, proud to belong to one human family, as the
Holy Father has emphasised in recent years," he said.
"In his encyclical
Fratelli tutti, he writes, "Let us dream, then, as a single human family,
as fellow travellers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth,
which is our common home, each of us bringing the richness of his or her
beliefs and convictions, each of us with his or her own voice, brothers and
sisters all," he added.
"Inspired by Pope
Francis's unwavering commitment to social justice and my belief in the power of
social business, the 3Zero Club encourages young minds to envision and
implement projects that drive meaningful change," the chief adviser said.
"By nurturing their
creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, we empower these young leaders to become
architects of a more just and harmonious society," he said.
END/UNB/MK/F