Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Made public today the Message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for World Day for Peace to be celebrated 1 January 2008, of which the theme is “The human family, a community of peace”. “ The first form of communion between persons is that born of the love of a man and a woman who decide to enter a stable union in order to build together a new family - the Pope writes in the Message explaining the theme -. But the peoples of the earth, too, are called to build relationships of solidarity and co-operation among themselves, as befits members of the one human family ”. Pope Benedict's Message is written in two parts: part one - “Family, society and peace” - highlights the sense and value of the relation between the family nucleus and peace; part two underlines the relationship with a series of issues connected with peace: environment, economy, moral law, conflict, disarmament. In the conclusion of the Message the Pope mentions three anniversaries: the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 25th anniversary of the adoption on the part of the Holy See of the Charter of the Rights of the Family and the 40th anniversary since the first World Day for Peace. Benedict XVI concludes “ I likewise invite believers to implore tirelessly from God the great gift of peace. Christians, for their part, know that they can trust in the intercession of Mary, who, as the Mother of the Son of God made flesh for the salvation of all humanity, is our common Mother. To all my best wishes for a joyful New Year!” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 11/12/2007; righe 17, parole 262)
