Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – For the 2013 of the 46th World Day of Peace on Jan. 1 2013, the Holy Father Benedict XVI has chosen this theme: "Blessed are the peacemakers." The statement released by the Press Office of the Holy See informs that the Annual Message of the Pope, in the current context, aims to encourage everyone to take responsibility with regard to peacebuilding. The Message will embrace, therefore, the fullness and diversity of the concept of peace starting from human being inner peace and outer peace; then highlighting the anthropological emergency, the nature and incidence of nihilism and, at the same time, fundamental rights, in the first place freedom of conscience, freedom of expression, freedom of religion.
The Message will also offer an ethical reflection on some measures the world is going take to contain the financial and economic crisis, the educational crisis, the crisis of the institutions and politics, which is also - in many cases – a worrying crisis of democracy.
The Message will also look at the 50th anniversary of the II Vatican Council and of the encyclical letter of Pope John XXIII, Pacem in Terris, according to which the primacy is always for the human dignity and its freedom, for the building of an earthly city to service of every person, without any discrimination, and directed to the common good which is based on justice and true peace. "Blessed are the peacemakers" will be the eighth Message of Pope Benedict XVI for the Celebration of World Day of Peace. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 16/7/2012)
