AMERICA/CHILE - Bishops' Christmas Message: “Only honest and respectful dialogue which is learned in the family, will thwart the temptation to resort to violence and open the way for just solutions ”

Santiago (Agenzia Fides) - “May the Child Jesus bless us with his grace, give peace to our hearts and lead us on the path of dialogue so that life in families and in society there may be more respect the dignity of every person, and efforts to promote the common good, especially the good of those most in need”. This statement was part of a Christmas Message issued by the standing committee of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Chile.
The Bishops say with regard to the year which is coming to an end: "although in some circumstances it was not prosperous for all Chileans, it did open paths for dialogue to find solutions to pressing social issues such as greater social justice and better education of quality”. But the Bishops also warn about a “persisting atmosphere of violence present in day to day living” in every field and stress the need to educate to peace. “Only honest and respectful dialogue which is learned in the family, will thwart the temptation to resort to violence and open the way for just solutions".
The Bishops end their Message with a call to hope. “This Advent Pope Benedict XVI has given us his second encyclical “Spe salvi”, rich in contents which brings a freshness to our times”. And the cite the Holy Father: “Let us say once again: we need the greater and lesser hopes that keep us going day by day. But these are not enough without the great hope, which must surpass everything else. This great hope can only be God, who encompasses the whole of reality and who can bestow upon us what we, by ourselves, cannot attain” (N. 31). (RG) (Agenzia Fides 21/12/2007; righe 20, parole 296)