Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) – “An Ever Timely Commitment: Teaching Peace” is the theme of Pope John Paul II’s Message for World Day of Prayer for Peace 2004 which was released on 16 December in the Vatican. Presenting the Message for this 37th World Day for Peace, the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, explained that “ with his message in the face of grave questions regarding peace and security in our day the Holy Father illustrates the specific and proper character of the Church’s mission: the duty to educate and form consciences. With her centuries-old social teaching on peace, the Church "an expert in humanity", has always reminded recalled the fundamental task of educating to peace in the awareness that only persons and peoples spiritually and culturally formed to the values of peace are able to achieve it.”
The Message opens with a call to the Leaders of nations, jurists, educators of youth, men and women tempted to resort to terrorism, to realise that peace is possible and it is a duty! The Pope then recalls the annual messages which have accompanied the Church’s celebration of World Day of Prayer for Peace since its institution in 1968 by Pope Paul VI. “In this part of the document – Cardinal Martino said -the Holy Father pays homage to his great predecessor who, with the institution of World Day of Prayer for Peace and its Messages, outlined a most important path for the fundamental contribution, well known and appreciated at the national and international level, which the Chair of Peter offers for the establishment of peace in the world.”
The central part of the Message illustrates the theme of education to legality. “On international law’s long journey in history there have taken form with growing force - Cardinal Martino recalled –“universal principles which are prior to and superior to the internal law of States, and which take into account the unity and the common vocation of the human family" (n. 5). Among the principles at the heart of that nucleus of norms qualified as jus gentium, the Message mentions the principle according to which pacta sunt servanda. Agreements freely signed must be honoured: "This – the document affirms – is the pivotal and exceptionless presupposition of every relationship between responsible contracting parties. The violation of this principle necessarily leads to a situation of illegality and consequently to friction and disputes which would not fail to have lasting negative repercussions. It is appropriate to recall this fundamental rule, especially at times when there is a temptation to appeal to the law of force rather than to the force of law." (n. 5). The Message highlights as one of the most relevant fruits of international law after the tragedy of World War Two, the institution of the United Nations’ Organisation, entrusted with "the task of watching over global peace and security and with encouraging the efforts of States to preserve and guarantee these fundamental goods of humanity " (n. 6), “Pivotal to the system was the prohibition of the use of force " (n. 6).”
In the fight against terrorism the Holy Father offers two important indications of a political and educational nature ("The fight against terrorism must be conducted also on the political and educational levels: on the one hand, by eliminating the underlying causes of situations of injustice which frequently drive people to more desperate and violent acts; and on the other hand, by insisting on an education inspired by respect for human life in every situation: the unity of the human race is a more powerful reality than any contingent divisions separating individuals and people." (n. 8)) and in the ambit of international law ("called to develop legal instruments provided with effective means for the prevention, monitoring and suppression of crime. In any event, democratic governments know well that the use of force against terrorists cannot justify a renunciation of the principles of the rule of law. Political decisions would be unacceptable were they to seek success without consideration for fundamental human rights, since the end never justifies the means." (n. 8).)
Illustrating the doctrinal contribution offered by the Church for the elaboration of principles necessary for peaceful coexistence, the Holy Father emphasises that international law must never be separated from the ethic and juridical order: " History teaches that the building of peace cannot prescind from respect for an ethical and juridical order, in accordance with the ancient adage: “Serva ordinem et ordo servabit te” (preserve order and order will preserve you). International law must ensure that the law of the more powerful does not prevail. Its essential purpose is to replace “the material force of arms with the moral force of law”,(7) providing appropriate sanctions for transgressors and adequate reparation for victims. This must also be applicable to those government leaders who violate with impunity human dignity and rights while hiding behind the unacceptable pretext that it is a matter of questions internal to their State." (n. 9). The Pope’s Message ends with the affirmation that the value of justice must always be completed with love: "By itself, justice is not enough. Indeed, it can even betray itself, unless it is open to that deeper power which is love.". Only a humanity in which there reigns the “civilisation of love” will be able to enjoy authentic and lasting peace." (n.10).
(S.L.) (Fides Service 16/12/2003 – lines 62; words 876)
