World Day of Peace
The first day of the year is World Peace Day. Pope Leo XIV began his pontificate by calling the world to peace. This is a great challenge because humanity is experiencing many extremely violent and inhumane wars, with atrocities against life, property, and world fraternity. Therefore, the theme of this day is very powerful: Peace be with you all. Towards an unarmed and disarming peace.. And he reinforces: “This is the peace of the resurrected Christ, an unarmed and disarming peace, humble and persevering. It comes from God, the God who loves us all unconditionally.”.
A primary human attitude to consider: “to see the light and believe in it,” this light must overcome the darkness. “Peace exists, it desires to dwell within us, it has the gentle power to illuminate and broaden our understanding, it resists violence and conquers it. Peace has the breath of eternity: while evil is commanded “enough!”, peace is pleaded for “forever.” The Risen One has introduced us to this horizon.” There is no need to be afraid, “let us open ourselves to peace!”.
Even when overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness, let us not resort to violence and weapons, but rather to attitudes of disarmament and disarming. Humanity needs to focus on Christ and learn from Him: “The peace of the resurrected Jesus is disarmed, because his struggle was disarmed, within precise historical, political, and social circumstances. Christians must, together, become prophetic witnesses of this new reality, aware of the tragedies in which they have often been complicit.”.
Currently, there is a desire to convey the idea that we are constantly under threat, hence the decisions of countries to defend themselves and seek security through armament. The use of weapons generates a "spiral of destruction," with weapons being used for the greatest atrocities and crimes. "So that this may never happen, the Bishops of the whole world, gathered together, implore everyone, especially governments and military leaders, to constantly consider their great responsibility before God and humanity." It is necessary to "join efforts to contribute mutually to a disarming peace, a peace that is born from openness and evangelical humility.".
Kindness is disarming.
“"Kindness is disarming." In turn, "human frailty has the power to make us more lucid about what lasts and what passes, what gives life and what kills. Perhaps that is why we so often tend to deny limits and flee from fragile and wounded people: they have the power to question the direction we choose, as individuals and as a community," quoting Pope Francis.
The Church is involved in building peace. For complete disarmament to occur, a “renewal of the heart and mind” is fundamental. Everything must begin within man. But it must also be recognized that “justice and human dignity are, more than ever, exposed to power imbalances among the strongest.” “Unfortunately, it is increasingly part of the contemporary landscape to drag the words of faith into political conflict, to bless nationalism, and to religiously justify violence and armed struggle. The faithful must actively refute, first and foremost with their lives, these forms of blasphemy that obscure the Holy Name of God… Throughout the world, it is desirable that «every community becomes a “house of peace,” where one learns to neutralize hostility through dialogue, where justice is practiced, and forgiveness is preserved.» Another strategy involves “the development of conscious civil societies, forms of responsible association, experiences of non-violent participation, and restorative justice practices on a small and large scale.”.
Let these words of Pope Leo XIV inspire us to be builders of peace and harmony, following Christ who is the Prince of Peace.
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