Pope Francis: Do not waste God's
gift of peace
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| Logo of this year's Prayer for Peace meeting : peace with no borders |
Pope Francis sends a message to participants of the 33rd
Prayer for Peace Meeting: "Peace with no borders", and urges unity
and respect, for all peoples and for our common home.
By Francesca Merlo
“It is a source of joy to see that this pilgrimage of peace
… has never been interrupted and continues to grow” said Pope Francis. His
words came in a message addressed to Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra, Archbishop
of Madrid, and to the participants of the Prayer for Peace Meeting.
Organised by the Community of Sant’Egidio, the prayer for
Peace Meeting was founded 33 years ago and this year takes place in
Madrid, from 15 - 17 September, reflecting on the theme "Peace with
no borders".
Peace without borders
Pope Francis began his message recalling the fall of the
Berlin Wall 30 years ago, when, he said, the “lacerating division of the
European continent that had caused so much suffering ended”.
The contribution of a prayer for peace
That day brought “new peace and hope” throughout the world,
said the Pope. We are convinced, he continued, that the “prayers for peace, of
so many of God’s sons and daughters contributed to that fall”.
The Pontiff went on to refer to the biblical story of
Jericho, which reminds us that “walls fall when they are "besieged"
with prayer and not with weapons, with longings for peace and not conquest,
when one dreams of a good future for all”.
For this reason, continued the Pope, “it is always necessary
to pray and dialogue in the perspective of peace” as “the Lord listens to the
prayer of his faithful people”.
Wasting God’s gift
In the first two decades of this century we have seen “God’s
gift that is peace” being wasted, with wars and “with the construction of new
walls and barriers”, said the Pope.
“It is foolish”, he continued, “to close spaces, to separate
peoples”. It is foolish both for the good of the people, and for the good of
the world he said. Our world, our common home, “demands love, care, respect…
just as humanity demands peace and brotherhood”, said the Pope.
No walls, rather doors
Rather than “walls that separate”, continued Pope Francis,
the common home “needs open doors that help to communicate, to meet, to
cooperate in order to live together in peace, respecting diversity and
tightening bonds of responsibility”.
Closeness
Pope Francis went on to express his closeness to all those
participating in the meeting, from different Christian Churches and different
worldwide religions. This prayer, he said “unites us all, in a common feeling,
without any confusion”, because, he explained, peace is a common desire in a
variety of different religions and traditions.
Document of human fraternity
Pope Francis recalled signing the “Document on Human
Fraternity, for World Peace and Living Together” in Abu Dhabi in February.
Along with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, he said, “we affirmed that ‘religions
must never incite war, hateful attitudes, hostility and extremism, nor must
they incite violence or the shedding of blood’”.
One voice from one heart
Finally, Pope Francis urged all participants to unite shout,
“with one heart and one voice”, that “peace has no borders”. With one heart and
from the heart, concluded Pope Francis, as “it is in hearts that the feelings
of peace and brotherhood must be sown.”
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