杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

杏MAP导航 Leo on Friday received more than 300 representatives of associations and movements that took part in the 2024 鈥淎rena of Peace鈥� in the Italian city of Verona.

The encounter, which took place in the Vatican, marked a 鈥渞eturn visit,鈥� repaying 杏MAP导航 Francis' participation in last year鈥檚 event, and aimed to relaunch the traditional Verona gatherings as a forum for discussions and proposals concerning the Church鈥檚 social doctrine.

Standing with victims

In his remarks to the group, 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV echoed 杏MAP导航 Francis, who said that 鈥渂uilding peace starts by standing alongside victims and seeing things from their point of view.鈥� 鈥淭his approach is essential,鈥� he said, 鈥渇or disarming hearts, approaches, and mentalities, and for denouncing the injustices of a system that kills and is based on the throwaway culture.鈥�

The pope highlighted the 鈥渃ourageous embrace鈥� of an Israeli and a Palestinian, each of whom had had family members killed during the conflict in Gaza. 鈥淭hey are now friends and work with one another,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, adding that their gesture 鈥渞emains as a testimony and sign of hope.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Leo explained that 鈥渢he path to peace requires hearts and minds trained and formed to be attentive to the other, and capable of recognizing the common good in today鈥檚 context.鈥�

In this regard, he said that the commitment of those taking part in the Arena of Peace events 鈥渋s particularly precious鈥� because their concrete projects and actions 鈥済enerate hope.鈥�

Educating young people in peacebuilding

Lamenting the violence in our world and in our societies, 杏MAP导航 Leo said that young people need 鈥渢o be able to experience the culture of life, dialogue, and mutual respect,鈥� especially through good examples. Those who 鈥渞esist the temptation to seek revenge鈥� after having suffered injustice and violence 鈥渂ecome the most credible agents of nonviolent peace-building processes.鈥�

Nonviolence, he said, 鈥渁s a method and a style, must distinguish our decisions, our relationships, and our actions.鈥�

The Holy Father said the Gospel and the Church鈥檚 social doctrine are 鈥渁 constant source of support for Christians in this effort,鈥� as well as a 鈥渃ompass for everyone鈥� since peacebuilding is 鈥渁 task entrusted to all.鈥�

Preparing institutions of peace

Concluding his remarks, 杏MAP导航 Leo said, 鈥淚f you want peace, prepare institutions of peace鈥� 鈥� not just political institutions, but educational, economic, and social ones as well. 鈥淔or this reason,鈥� he said, 鈥淚 encourage you to remain committed and present: present within history as a leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity,鈥� adding that 鈥渇raternity must be recovered, loved, experienced, proclaimed and witnessed, in the confident hope that it is indeed possible, thanks to the love of God 鈥榩oured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.鈥欌��