Launch of Pax Christi International Youth Forum

Pax Christi Youth Forum founder members

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Pax Christi International (PCI) 80th Anniversary in Florence, Italy. From around the world, we came together not only to celebrate 80 years of Pax Christi, but also to discuss how to build momentum for the organisation to continue into the future.

Over a packed four days, we had panel discussions, workshops and moments of reflection.

Under the theme of 'Building Bridges for Tomorrow', we covered many topics from Ecological Justice, to Disarmament, and Just Peace. Underpinning every conversation was Pax Christi's commitment to nonviolence.

'Nonviolence' is sometimes mistaken for either pacifism, or a passive stance which avoids conflict altogether. Rather, for Pax Christi, nonviolence refers to an active stance in the face of injustices against people and planet. That's why we often see the phrase 'Active Nonviolence': responding to injustices through compassion with the ultimate aim of reconciliation, by ensuring dignity is upheld. For me, some of the most powerful discussions I had last week were around the concept of nonviolence, how we communicate it, and the extent that Catholic Social Teaching is, or ought to be, rooted in it.

At every moment, it was real people, and real experiences, that were centred in our conversations. Communities, where possible, travelled to tell their own stories, to invite collaboration where needed, and to showcase their efforts towards a just world through active nonviolence.

I was invited to join the 80th Anniversary to help launch a new PCI Youth Forum. This will be a space for 18-35 year-olds interested in working for a more just and peaceful world through nonviolence, to build an international community. We started the groundwork exploring the values we want to underpin the forum, and the overarching themes we'll explore. But this will be a member-led movement. While guided by the 80 years of experience PCI has, this will be a space built by and for youth passionate about nonviolent social action.

If you'd like to join us, or join as a partner organisation, we'd love to have you involved! Just email hello@paxchristi.net and
communications@paxchristi.net to help us shape the Pax Christi International Youth Forum.