[Sundaycommunity] Pope Francis on seeking Peace

[Dave Snelgrove]

Thank you very much, Brian.  We need this leadership.  We need this glimpse
of the direction God wishes us to follow.

On Thu., Jan. 11, 2024, 9:55 a.m. Greg Gillis via Sundaycommunity, <
sundaycommunity at lists.integralshift.ca> wrote:

> Thank you Brian, this is so true. Imagine if all diplomats and world
> leaders operated from this starting point! What a different world we might
> have.
>
> Peace
>
> Greg
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 10, 2024 at 3:03 PM Brian Halferty via Sundaycommunity <
> sundaycommunity at lists.integralshift.ca> wrote:
>
>> Hi Friends,
>>
>> Recently, I've been reading the encyclical of Pope Francis, "Fratelli
>> Tutti: On Fraternity and Social Friendshp."  Not surprisingly, there's some
>> good stuff in it.  I was struck by the following couple of paragraphs,
>> written in 2020, but which can certainly be applied to current conflicts in
>> the world, such as the Israeli - Hamas battle.
>>
>> STARTING ANEW FROM THE TRUTH
>>
>> 226. Renewed encounter does not mean returning to a time prior to
>> conflicts. All of us change over time. Pain and conflict transform us. We
>> no longer have use for empty diplomacy, dissimulation, double-speak, hidden
>> agendas and good manners that mask reality. Those who were fierce enemies
>> have to speak from the stark and clear truth. They have to learn how to
>> cultivate a penitential memory, one that can accept the past in order not
>> to cloud the future with their own regrets, problems and plans. Only by
>> basing themselves on the historical truth of events will they be able to
>> make a broad and persevering effort to understand one another and to strive
>> for a new synthesis for the good of all. Every “peace process requires
>> enduring commitment. It is a patient effort to seek truth and justice, to
>> honour the memory of victims and to open the way, step by step, to a shared
>> hope stronger than the desire for vengeance”. [209]
>> <https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html#_ftn209> As
>> the Bishops of the Congo have said with regard to one recurring conflict:
>> “Peace agreements on paper will not be enough. We will have to go further,
>> by respecting the demands of truth regarding the origins of this recurring
>> crisis. The people have the right to know what happened”. [210]
>> <https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html#_ftn210>
>>
>> 227. “Truth, in fact, is an inseparable companion of justice and mercy.
>> All three together are essential to building peace; each, moreover,
>> prevents the other from being altered… Truth should not lead to revenge,
>> but rather to reconciliation and forgiveness. Truth means telling families
>> torn apart by pain what happened to their missing relatives. Truth means
>> confessing what happened to minors recruited by cruel and violent people.
>> Truth means recognizing the pain of women who are victims of violence and
>> abuse… Every act of violence committed against a human being is a wound in
>> humanity’s flesh; every violent death diminishes us as people… Violence
>> leads to more violence, hatred to more hatred, death to more death. We must
>> break this cycle which seems inescapable”. [211]
>> <https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html#_ftn211>
>>
>> The encyclical is available and can be downloaded for free from the
>> Vatican website:
>> Fratelli tutti (3 October 2020) | Francis (vatican.va)
>> <https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html>
>>
>> Fratelli tutti (3 October 2020) | Francis
>>
>> Encyclical Fratelli tutti (All Brothers) of the Holy Father Francis, 3
>> October 2020
>>
>> <https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html>
>>
>> Best wishes to you all.
>>
>> Brian
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *Brian Halferty*
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