Pope Leo: ‘We all are called to safeguard and promote peace’

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

“Safeguarding and promoting peace is a responsibility for each of us and, at the same time, a mission to be nurtured patiently in every sphere of our daily lives.”

Pope Leo XIV expressed this in a message dated October 13 and sent to Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, President of the Vatican John Paul I Foundation, on the occasion of the International Conference on “John Paul I: Iustitia et Pax  ‘Safeguarding and Promoting Peace in This Troubled World,’’ organized by the Foundation.

The Pope conveyed his greetings to the organizers, speakers and participants, together with his good wishes for the fruitful outcome of the proceedings, taking place at the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Individual responsibility to safeguard peace

The Pope began by noting that the gathering’s theme offers a message of hope for the future of humanity, with its focus on each person’s responsibility to cultivate peace.

Quoting Pope Francis, who stressed that “peace is not merely the absence of war,” Pope Leo added that Saint Augustine speaks of peace as the fruit of tranquillitas ordinis.

Reiterating that “peace presupposes respect for the dignity and fundamental rights of every person, as well as solidarity among peoples,” Pope Leo insisted, “From this perspective, justice becomes an essential condition.”

John Paul I’s lessons invite us to pursue concrete peace

The Holy Father went on to recall that Blessed Pope John Paul I, “with his simple and direct language, insisted on the need for personal involvement, fraternity and charity in building human relationships founded on trust.”

Pope Leo observed that this teaching reminds us that international peace begins in the family, at school and within the community, before extending to institutions.

In this light, the Pope said that the teaching of John Paul I should be revisited today, describing it as “an invitation not to regard peace as an abstract idea, entrusted solely to those charged with the high responsibility of ensuring stability and social harmony among nations.”

“In a world so deeply shaken,” the Holy Father underscored, “safeguarding and promoting peace means mending what is divided, protecting the most vulnerable, forgiving and understanding, listening to and recognizing others, educating people in sincere dialogue, and restoring to the word ‘fraternity’ a concrete ecclesial, social and political dimension.”

Pope Leo concluded by expressing his hope that the day of reflection would prove to be a providential opportunity to deepen understanding of the pastoral work and Magisterium of Pope John Paul I, and by imparting his Apostolic Blessing.

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