Pax Christi welcomes Pope's World Day of Peace Message 2017

In his message 'Nonviolence: A style of politics for peace,' for the 50th World Day of Peace, celebrated each year on 1 January, Pope Francis urges people everywhere to practice active nonviolence and notes that the "decisive and consistent practice of nonviolence has produced impressive results." In England and Wales the message is celebrated on 15 January with resources produced by Pax Christi.

The Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, a global effort to affirm the vision and practice of active nonviolence at the heart of the Catholic Church, is heartened by and deeply grateful for the Holy Father's call to political and religious leaders, heads of international organizations, and business and media executives to "apply the Beatitudes in the exercise of their respective responsibilities. It is a challenge to build up society, communities and businesses by acting as peacemakers. It is to show mercy by refusing to discard people, harm the environment, or seek to win at any cost. ... To act in this way means to choose solidarity as a way of making history and building friendship in society. Active nonviolence is a way of showing that unity is truly more powerful and more fruitful than conflict."

The Catholic Nonviolence Initiative was formed to advance the requests made in the Appeal to the Catholic Church to re-commit to the centrality of Gospel nonviolence, the final statement of the landmark Nonviolence and Just Peace Conference held in Rome in April 2016 and co-sponsored by the Holy See's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Pax Christi International, and other organizations.

"It was especially noteworthy that we received Pope Francis' message at this time," said Marie Dennis, co-president of Pax Christi International. "Last week we gathered with member organizations in Africa for our regional conference, 'Nonviolence in Africa: Creating a future of hope,' during which time the attendees endorsed the Appeal to the Catholic Church to re-commit to the centrality of Gospel nonviolence. Much of our time together during those days focused on how to reclaim civil space and how to promote nonviolence in many ways. The Holy Father's message for 2017 deeply resonates with us as the work Pax Christi International and its member groups has been dedicated for years to finding creative and peaceful solutions to violent conflict."

Columban Father, Pat Cunningham who works to challenge militarism in South Korea said: "It is indeed very positive to see as one of the fruits of the Rome conference the adoption of nonviolence as a theme for World Peace Day. Pope Francis' reference to the current situation as a 'world war in instalments' in highlighting the negative social consequences of violence and particularly when it comes to preparations for war in this region his remarks certainly ring true.

I believe that the public's desire for a new politics here will hopefully lead to more people led institutions that are based on nonviolence and I'm sure Pope Francis' message will bring much thoughtful reflection."

Read the Message, 'Nonviolence: A style of politics for peace' here: www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=31538

See the resources produced by Pax Christi for Peace Sunday here: http://paxchristi.org.uk/news-and-events/peace-sunday/