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Pope uses first World Day of Peace message to make a forceful appeal for disarmament

12/12/2013 11:03 am

Pope Francis - profile - smiling

Pope Francis has used his first message for the World Day of Peace to call for a culture of fraternity to take us further down the pathway to peace.

The Holy Father's message covers a wide range of subjects making a particularly strong statement on disarmament:

"I appeal forcefully to all those who sow violence and death by force of arms: in the person you see today simply as an enemy to be beaten, discover rather your brother or sister, and hold back your hand! Give up the way of arms and go out to meet the other in dialogue, pardon and reconciliation, in order to rebuild justice, trust, and hope around you!"

The Holy Father extends this call to lay down weapons: 

"As long as so great a quantity of arms are in circulation as at present, new pretexts can always be found for initiating hostilities. For this reason, I make my own the appeal of my predecessors for the non-proliferation of arms and for disarmament of all parties, beginning with nuclear and chemical weapons disarmament."

Subjects Covered

  • family as the "wellspring of all fraternity"
  • the need to safeguard the right to life and religious freedom
  • the tragic phenomenon of human trafficking
  • the basis of fraternity found in God's fatherhood
  • Christian solidarity in the quest for peace
  • fraternity as a prerequisite for fighting poverty
  • the need to rediscover fraternity in the economy after a series of financial crises
  • a forceful appeal for those who sow violence to give up the way of arms in favour of "dialogue, pardon and reconciliation"
  • the threat to fraternity posed by corruption and organised crime
  • fraternity to preserve and cultivate nature

Celebrated on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, 1 January, the World Day of Peace was introduced in 1967 by Pope Paul VI.

Download

You can read or download Pope Francis' message for the World Day of Peace by using the link in the top right-hand corner of this page. It is also embedded below.

Peace Message 128.66 kB

Link

paxchristi.org.uk
Official website of Pax Christi - A Catholic charity that works for peace - based on justice - in a world where human rights are respected, basic needs are met and people feel safe and valued in their communities.

Download

Peace Message

pope-francis-wld-day-peace-2014.pdf 128.66 kB

Pope Francis' first message for the World Day of Prayer for Peace celebrated on the Feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, 1 January 2014.