Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Twenty-five years have passed since the blessed Pope John Paul II first invited representatives of the world’s religions to Assisi to pray for peace, "unfortunately we cannot say that freedom and peace have characterized the situation ever since". This is the statement expressed by the Holy Father Benedict XVI in his speech at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, on the morning of Oct. 27, at the end of the commemoration of the previous meetings and deepening of the theme of the Day "Pilgrims of truth, Pilgrims of peace". "The world, unfortunately, is full of discord – continued the Pope -. Violence as such is potentially ever present and it is a characteristic feature of our world. Freedom is a great good. But the world of freedom has proved to be largely directionless, and not a few have misinterpreted freedom as somehow including freedom for violence. Discord has taken on new and frightening guises, and the struggle for freedom must engage us all in a new way in a new way".
Pope Benedict XVI then identified "two different types of new forms of violence". Firstly there is terrorism, often "religiously motivated", and "the specifically religious character of the attacks is proposed as a justification for the reckless cruelty, that considers itself entitled to discard the rules of morality for the sake of the intended 'good'. Religion here does not serve peace, but is used as the justification for violence". The Pope highlighted how " in the course of history violence has been used in the name of the Christian faith... But it is utterly clear that this was an abuse of the Christian faith, one that evidently contradicts its true nature". A second type of violence "is a result of God’s absence, his denial and the loss of humanity that goes hand in hand with it ... But the denial of God has led to much cruelty and to a degree of violencethat knows no bounds, which only becomes possible when man no longer recognizes any rcriterion or any judge above himself, not having only himself to take as a criterion".
Besides these two realities, there are also "people to whom the gift of faith has not been given, but who are nevertheless on the lookout for truth, searching God ... seeking the truth, they are seeking the true God, whose image is frequently concealed in the religions because of the ways in which they are often practised. "Finally the Holy Father affirmed that "the Catholic Church does not let up in her fight against violence, in her commitment for peace in the world".
In the afternoon, in the lower square of the Basilica of St. Francis, the final meeting of the day was held, with the solemn renewal of the common commitment to peace. The commitment shown by twelve delegates who took the word, was sanctioned by the Pope's final words: "No more violence! No more war! No more terrorism! In the name of God, may every religion bring upon earth justice and peace, forgiveness and Life, Love". (SL) (Agenzia Fides 28/10/2011)
