Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Medellin (Fides Service) – “Education to peace is no extrinsic or accidental element, it is intimately united with the evangelising mission of the Church as a teacher of peoples and an expert in humanity” said Archbishop Renato Martin, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, when he spoke to the clergy of the archdiocese of Medellin, during his pastoral visit to Colombia, after inaugurating in Bogota (5 May, ) the 2nd National Reconciliation Congress promoted by the Bishops of Colombia.
Speaking on the theme: “Social pastoral and reconciliation in times of conflict” the Archbishop said that, according to the teaching of Paul VI and John Paul II, the new names for peace are justice, development and solidarity”. Poverty and social exclusion are for Mons Martino Colombia’s main enemies. “No” to war must be accompanied by commitment for social justice and defence of human life and human freedom. Education to peace presupposes recognition of the unity of the huamn family and planetary common good; it means educating to distributive and social justice and to effective respect for the rights of every individual and every country; it also means forming to dialogue, to acceptance and understanding the reasons of others; lastly it implies the great commitment, so arduous in societies with situations of conflict, of education to non violence.
One task of education to peace, according to Archbishop Renato Martin is also “to restore the ethic soul of politics and economy” too often guided exclusively by profit. Instead, it is the Archbishop’s hope, that opening to justice and solidarity will give a new face to economy transforming it into a great factor for peace. PA (Fides Service 8/5/2003 EM lines 27 Words: 292)
