VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI issues his first Message for World Peace Day: “wherever and whenever men and women are enlightened by the splendour of truth, they naturally set out on the path of peace”

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The first Message written by Pope Benedict XVI for World Peace Day celebrated on the first day of the new year is inspired by the Gaudium et spes Pastoral Constitution (cfr. n.3), issued by the Second Vatican Council and this is yet another papal reference to that landmark Church event which came to a close 40 years ago.
The Pope begins his message which bears the title “In Truth, Peace”, recalling Popes Paul VI and John Paul II, “astute promoters of peace”, and reiterating “the steadfast resolve of the Holy See to continue serving the cause of peace”. The Pope says “The very name Benedict, which I chose on the day of my election to the Chair of Peter, is a sign of my personal commitment to peace. In taking this name, I wanted to evoke both the Patron Saint of Europe, who inspired a civilisation of peace on the whole continent, and Pope Benedict XV, who condemned the First World War as a ''useless slaughter'' and worked for a universal acknowledgement of the lofty demands of peace”.
Illustrating the theme the Pope writes “that wherever and whenever men and women are enlightened by the splendour of truth, they naturally set out on the path of peace”. Peace cannot be reduced to the simple absence of armed conflict, he reiterates, but needs to be understood as “a heavenly gift and a divine grace which demands at every level the exercise of the highest responsibility: that of conforming human history—in truth, justice, freedom and love—to the divine order”. The good of peace will be realised when there is a loss of fidelity to the transcendent order, and a loss of respect for that ''grammar'' of dialogue which is the universal moral law written on human hearts, when the integral development of the person and the protection of his fundamental rights are hindered or denied, whenever countless people are forced to endure intolerable injustices and inequalities.
The Pope refers to Sacred Scripture recalling the “the lie told at the very beginning of history by the animal with a forked tongue”, and adds “lying is linked to the tragedy of sin and its perverse consequences, which have had, and continue to have, devastating effects on the lives of individuals and nations.” He mentions the events of the past century, when aberrant ideological and political systems wilfully twisted the truth and “brought about the exploitation and murder of an appalling number of men and women” adding that “any authentic search for peace must begin with the realisation that the problem of truth and untruth is the concern of every man and woman; it is decisive for the peaceful future of our planet.”. Since peace is an irrepressible yearning present in the heart of each person ... “everyone should feel committed to service of this great good, and should strive to prevent any form of untruth from poisoning relationships. All people are members of one and the same family” the Pope says.
In the case of war the Pope stresses the need to respect “international humanitarian law [which] ought to be considered as one of the finest and most effective expressions of the intrinsic demands of the truth of peace. The Holy See has always supported this law “out of the conviction that the truth of peace exists even in the midst of war”. The Holy Father thanks and encourages international organisations committed to applying international humanitarian law and soldiers “engaged in the delicate work of resolving conflicts and restoring the necessary conditions for peace”, and Military Ordinaries and chaplains whom he urges to be in ”every situation and context, faithful heralds of the truth of peace”.
Stating that nowadays “the truth of peace continues to be dramatically compromised and rejected by terrorism” Pope Benedict XVI reaffirms condemnation of all forms of terrorism underlining that these criminal strategies “are often the fruit of a tragic and disturbing nihilism” and religious fanaticism, “today often labelled fundamentalism”. The Holy Father explains: “the nihilist denies the very existence of truth, while the fundamentalist claims to be able to impose it by force. Despite their different origins and cultural backgrounds, both show a dangerous contempt for human beings and human life, and ultimately for God himself”. He underpins that “in analysing the causes of the contemporary phenomenon of terrorism, consideration should be given, not only to its political and social causes, but also to its deeper cultural, religious and ideological motivations..”
The Pope reminds Catholics all over the world of the “duty to proclaim and embody ever more fully the ''Gospel of Peace'', and to show that acknowledgement of the full truth of God is the first, indispensable condition for consolidating the truth of peace”. All believers in Christ must “become convincing witnesses of the God who is inseparably truth and love, placing themselves at the service of peace in broad cooperation with other Christians, the followers of other religions and with all men and women of good will” he writes.
Towards the end of his message Pope Benedict XVI notes with satisfaction the “decrease in the number of armed conflicts” but warns that this must not lead people to forget that “situations exist where conflict, hidden like flame beneath ashes”. The Holy Father recalls the responsibility of those authorities who, rather than making every effort to promote peace, incite their citizens to hostility towards other nations” adding, “what can be said, too, about those governments which count on nuclear arms as a means of ensuring the security of their countries?...How can there ever be a future of peace when investments are still made in the production of arms and in research aimed at developing new ones?” While there is a concerning arrest of the process of disarmament the Pope calls for resources saved through disarmament to be used in development programmes for the poor countries. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 14/12/2005 - Righe 66, Parole 953)