Pope John Paul II prays that peace will triumph over evil

Sydney
6 January 2002

Pope John Paul II prays that peace will triumph over evil

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Pope John Paul II prays that peace will triumph over evil

There can be no peace without justice and no justice without forgiveness, the Holy Father has warned in this year’s World Day of Peace message.

In the wake of the events of September 11, Pope John Paul said, the hope for the Church in 2002 is that evil “does not have the final word in human affairs” and that “by the grace of God, a world in which the power of evil seems once again to have taken the upper hand will in fact be transformed into a world in which true peace will prevail.

The Pope, drawing on memories of his youth under Nazi and Communist regimes, said he often reflected on the question: “How do we restore the moral and social order subjected to such horrific violence?”

“The pillars of true peace are justice and that form of love which is forgiveness,” he said.

Forgiveness heals and rebuilds human relationships from their beginnings, the Pope said.

He condemned terrorism as “built on contempt for human life” and “itself a true crime against humanity”.

But the Pope warned that criminal culpability was always personal and “cannot be extended to the nation, ethnic group or religion to which the terrorists may belong”.

Injustices in the world could never be used as an excuse to justify terrorism, he said. The world’s poor would be worst affected by political and economic chaos.

Imploring forgiveness, the Pope said that such an act had a “divine source and criterion” and is a “fully human act”.

Although forgiveness was a personal initiative, individuals were social beings and were situated in a pattern of relationships through which they expressed themselves.

Because of this, society was also in need of forgiveness.

“Families, groups, societies, states and the international community itself need forgiveness in order to renew ties that have been sundered, go beyond sterile situations of mutual condemnation and overcome the temptation to discriminate against others without appeal.

“The ability to forgive lies at the very basis of the idea of a future society marked by justice and solidarity,” the Pope said.

He said the failure to forgive, especially when it prolongs conflict, was costly to human development, as resources were used for weapons rather than for peace and justice.

“Peace is essential to development but true peace is made possible only through forgiveness,” the Pope said.

“On this World Day of Peace, may a more intense prayer rise from the hearts of all believers for the victims of terrorism, for their families so tragically stricken, for all the peoples who continue to be hurt and convulsed by terrorism and war.

“May the light of our prayer extend even to those who gravely offend God and man by these pitiless acts, that they may look into their hearts, see the evil of what they do, abandon all violent intentions and seek forgiveness,” Pope John Paul said.