Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Caracas (Agenzia Fides) - From 21 to 26 September the International Week of Peace was celebrated in Venezuela. The government and various institutions in the country organized meetings, events and moments of dialogue and reflection on the theme of peace.
In this context, on 21 September the meeting of the Apostolic Nuncio promoted by the National Council for the Laity in Venezuela, the body of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV) (see Fides 09/16/2014) was also held.
Yesterday afternoon the week of peace concluded with an religious meeting which was attended by representatives of the Catholic Church, the Evangelical Church, the Jewish and the Muslim community. During the meeting, a message from Pope Francis to the Apostolic Nuncio Mgr. Aldo Giordano was also read, in which the Bishop of Rome urged Venezuela to persevere in building a more just and peaceful society.
"Do not be afraid of peace. Cohabitation, dialogue, reconciliation and union are not a defeat but a victory, because who wins is the human being created by God in order to be able to live in harmony", the Pope wrote in his letter read by Archbishop Giordano. In his speech, said the Nuncio "We hope that this meeting will be a path in the search of what unites to overcome what divides. You have to know that many people from different cultures, nations, languages and religions around the world work and pray for peace. We are united with all those who love peace and are peacemakers, so that men and women are able to live as brothers and not as rivals or enemies. We are close to all the people who are victims in many countries in the world".
At the conclusion of his speech, the representative of the Holy Father prayed for peace by reciting the prayer written by St. Francis of Assisi. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 27/09/2014)
