Lasting peace can exist only without weapons, pope says March 31, 2023By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Gun Violence, News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A culture of nonviolence will become more widespread when countries and citizens resort less and less to the use of weapons, Pope Francis said. “Living, speaking and acting without violence is not surrendering, losing or giving up anything, but aspiring to everything,” the pope said in a video message released March 30 by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. At the start of each month, the network posts a short video of the pope offering his specific prayer intention. For the month of April, the pope dedicated his prayer intention for a nonviolent culture. In his video message, the pope said, “war is madness. It’s beyond reason.” Any kind of war or armed confrontation, he said, “always ends in defeat for all.” “Let us develop a culture of peace,” he said. “Even in cases of self-defense, peace is the ultimate goal,” he said, emphasizing that “a lasting peace can exist only without weapons.” “Let us make nonviolence a guide for our actions, both in daily life and in international relations,” he said, and “let us pray for a more widespread culture of nonviolence, that will progress when countries and citizens alike resort less and less to the use of arms.” Read More Vatican News Pope Leo is first pontiff to go to St. Charbel’s tomb; visit is source of ‘great joy’ for Lebanon Pope tells reporters dialogue is always the answer to tense situations Choose the way of peace, pope says as he leaves Lebanon Lebanese have what is needed to build a future of peace, pope says Love without fear, pope tells Lebanese church workers Pope urges Lebanese not to give up on peace or each other Copyright © 2023 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
