Pope Benedict says: 'non-violence is a way of being'

Non-violence is not just tactical behaviour - it is "a personal way of being" based on love, Pope Benedict told pilgrims at yesterday's Angelus "Turning the other cheek" does not mean giving in to evil but reacting to evil with good, just as "loving one's enemies" means putting more love in a world marked by too much violence and too much injustice, the Pope said. Before reciting the Angelus, Benedict XVI talked about the preaching of Jesus on 'Love your enemies'. "What is the meaning of these words of his?" the Pope asked. "Why does Jesus ask us to love our enemies, that is, a love that surpasses human capacity?" "In reality, the suggestion of Christ is realistic because it takes into account that there is too much violence, too much injustice in the world and therefore the situation cannot be overcome unless it is countered by more love and more goodness. "This 'more' comes from God: it is his mercy, which became flesh in Jesus and alone can 'turn the balance' of the world away from evil towards good, starting from that small and decisive 'world' that is the heart of man." Pope Benedict said: "this Gospel page is rightly considered to be the Magna Carta of Christian non-violence, which consists not of giving in to evil - according to a false interpretation of 'turning the other cheek' - but in responding to evil with good, thus breaking the chains of injustice." Christian non-violence is not merely tactical behaviour but "the attitude of one who is so convinced of the love and strength of God that he is not afraid to face evil armed with just the weapons of love and truth." The Holy Father said: "Loving one's enemy constitutes the nucleus of the "Christian revolution" which changes the world "without making any noise about it." . The Pope concluded by sending greetings to all the countries celebrating the lunar new year over the weekend. Source: VIS