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MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS,
SIGNED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN,
TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SIXTH EDITION OF THE «PARIS PEACE FORUM 2023»
[10-11 novembre 2023]
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On the occasion of the Sixth Paris Peace Forum, His Holiness Pope Francis is
pleased to join you with this message of encouragement, in the hope that this
meeting – whose purpose is to strengthen dialogue between all continents in
order to promote international cooperation and dialogue – may contribute to
building a more just, united and peaceful world.
This year, the Forum is being held in an extremely painful global context.
While we watch helplessly as armed conflicts multiply, bringing with them
suffering, injustice and damage – some of it irreversible – to our common home,
the Pope wants this Forum to be a sign of hope. He hopes that the commitments
made will encourage sincere dialogue, based on listening to the cries of all
those who suffer as a result of terrorism, violence in general and wars, all
scourges that benefit only certain groups by feeding particular interests,
unfortunately often disguised by noble intentions.
Peacebuilding is a slow, patient process, requiring the courage and practical
commitment of all people of good will who care about the present and the future
of humanity and the planet. Lasting peace is built day by day, through the
recognition, respect and promotion of the dignity of the human person and his or
her fundamental rights, among which the Holy See particularly acknowledges the
human right to peace, which is a condition for the exercise of all other human
rights.
In the year that marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we must admit that, for millions of
people on every continent, the persistent gap between the solemn commitments
made on 10 December 1948 and reality has yet to be bridged, and in some cases
with great urgency. How many people, including children, are deprived of the
fundamental and primary right to life and to physical and mental integrity as a
result of hostilities between different groups or different countries? How many
people are deprived of the most basic rights as a result of conflicts, such as
the right to drinking water and healthy food, but also the right to freedom of
religion, health, decent housing, a quality education and dignified work? How
many children are forced to take part, directly or indirectly, in fighting, and
bear the physical, psychological and spiritual scars for the rest of their
lives?
While reaffirming the inalienable right to self-defence and the
responsibility to protect those whose lives are threatened, we must acknowledge
that war is always a “defeat of humanity” (General
Audience, 23 March 2022). No war is worth the tears of a mother who has
seen her child mutilated or killed; no war is worth the loss of the life of even
one human being, a sacred being created in the image and likeness of the
Creator; no war is worth the poisoning of our common home; and no war is worth
the despair of those who are forced to leave their homeland and are deprived,
from one moment to the next, of their home and all the family, friendship,
social and cultural ties that have been built up, sometimes over generations.
Peace is built not with weapons, but through patient listening, dialogue and
cooperation, which remain the only means worthy of the human person in resolving
differences. The Holy Father wishes to reiterate the Holy See’s unceasing call
for arms to be silenced, for the production and trade of these instruments of
death and destruction to be rethought, and for the path of gradual but complete
disarmament to be resolutely pursued, so that the reasons for peace can finally
be heard loud and clear!
As he thanks you for your attention, Pope Francis hopes that your discussions
will be rich and fruitful, and that they will enable you to listen to and meet
each other in the wealth of your diversity, so that the culture of peace may
grow and bear tangible fruits of fraternity.
Pietro Cardinal Parolin
Secretary of State
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Holy See Press Office Bulletin,
10 November 2023 |
