Dear Editor,
I have been following developments both locally and internationally and thought of someone who in my view has made the most impact during the course of 2015.
The person who comes readily to my mind is none other than Pope Francis who with his message of peace, reconciliation and religious tolerance has made an indelible impression on people all across the religious, ethnic and ideological spectrum.
The Pope has taken some courageous positions on gay rights and was not afraid to point to the dangers of capitalism and its consequential ills of social exclusion, exploitation and marginalisation.
His visit to Cuba and meetings with Fidel Castro and his brother Raúl is indicative of his ability to reach out across the ideological and political divide.
More recently he announced the intention of the Vatican to establish diplomatic relations with Palestine which is an extremely bold step given the hardline stance taken by the USA and several other countries with large Catholic populations on the issue of recognition of Palestine as an independent state. It is however his humility and modesty and his ability to reach out to the poor and the underprivileged that has set him apart from several of his predecessors and which has earned him the respect and admiration of peoples all over the world and from all religious and ideological persuasions.
Yours faithfully,
Hydar Ally
