Plan growth of cities and towns, urges Pope Francis

Plan growth of cities and towns, urges Pope Francis

Pope Francis on Thursday urged leaders to ensure that urbanisation is planned and effective, adding that unplanned expansion of cities leaves shattered lives in its wake.

Speaking during his address at the United Nations Environmental Programme, the Pontiff said that the world could not remain indifferent to the destruction caused by rapid and unplanned urbanisation.

“Rapid urbanisation shatters lives and dreams… disproportionate and unplanned growth of cities is unhealthy and inefficient,” said the pope in his address.

He noted that the situation leads to social breakdown, increased cases of violence and gives birth to new forms of social aggression.

He also acknowledged that the rapid growth of cities and urban areas leads to vices such as drug use and trafficking by youths who lose their identity and become anonymous as their land is swallowed up by cities and towns.

The Pontiff encouraged leaders to ensure that urbanisation is used as a means for development and integration, adding that they should guarantee everyone the basic human rights to live in dignified conditions and have access to water.

“There is need to promote urban planning and maintenance of public areas,” said the Pope.

He further urged leaders to help eliminate inequality and urban poverty.

Pope Francis said this ahead of his visit to a church in Kangemi, which is a slum area in Nairobi, where he is expected to speak to the youth and conduct prayers.

 

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Pope Francis Youths urbanisation growth of cities

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