At 11:30 this morning in the John Paul II Hall at the Vatican Press Office, there was a Press Conference held to present Pope Francis' Message for the 47th World Day of Peace, which will be observed on January 1, 2014 which is based on the theme Fraternity, the foundation and the path to peace.
It is a great pleasure for me to present the first Message of Pope Francis for the celebration of the World Day of Peace, which will be observed on 1 January 2014. The Holy Father’s Message reflects on the theme of fraternity as the foundation of peace and as the pathway to peace. In my brief presentation, let me begin with some biblical reflections on fraternity, and then review the main points of the Message.
Fraternity according to the Bible
Fraternity is an essential human quality, for we are relational beings. But that does not make fraternity automatic. In our time, as Pope emeritus Benedict XVI pointed out, globalization makes us neighbours but it does not make us brothers (Caritas in veritate, 19). Fraternity is ignored or trampled upon in countless ways throughout history and even today, as the New Year’s Message makes very clear.
In the beginning, the Book of Genesis tells us that Adam and Eve had two sons. Cain and Abel were brothers; the Greek word, adelphos, means to come from the same womb. But the fact of being born siblings did not automatically make them fraternal.
The first sin, the original sin, according to Genesis, was Adam and Eve’s disobedience. They sinned by violating their relationship with God their Creator when they tried to place themselves above God.The second sin was Cain’s violation of his relationship with Abel. Out of jealousy, he murdered his brother. The first crime, therefore, was fratricide. Every taking of an innocent life – whether it is called abortion, murder, or euthanasia –whether it is called crime or starvation or war – is, in fact, fratricide, is it not? How can we fail to recognize that we are brothers and sisters, since we all have the same Father? How can we fail to recognize that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is our brother? By his Cross and Resurrection, he repaired a broken humanity and continually offers everyone the promise of salvation!
Male and female God created us (Gn 1:27), brother and sister he called us to be. Fraternity – treating each other as the brothers and sisters that we are – is our true vocation. We are free to embrace it or reject it. God our Creator has freely made human beings equal in dignity, but not the same. Each one of us is fully loved, not more or less but infinitely, fully, uniquely, and unconditionally.
Yet the evil one seduces us into comparing ourselves with each other! When Cain realized that God had shown favour to Abel, his disappointment fixated on his younger brother who he imagined to be his competitor. Instead of keeping his heart open to God’s love and thanking him for the abundant harvest, Cain unleashed murderous anger against his brother, who, in fact, was totally innocent.
In this Message, the Holy Father asks why there in such a deficit of fraternity in today’s world. Has selfishness blinded us to our fundamental fraternity? Have fear and competitiveness poisoned our incomparable dignity as sons and daughters of God, thus brothers and sisters to each other?
Fraternity according to the Message
Allow me now to highlight some key points of the Message for the World Day of Peace. Pope Francis cites his recent predecessors to expand on the meaning and relevance of fraternity as the foundation and pathway to peace.
Pope Paul VI emphasized integral development: We must work together to build the common future of the human race (Populorum progressio, 43).
Blessed John Paul II called peace an indivisible common good: either it is for all, or it is for none. It can be truly attained only if everyone shows solidarity as a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good (Solicitudo Rei Socialis, 38)
Pope Benedict XVI identified fraternity as a prerequisite for fighting poverty. His encyclical Caritas in Veritate reminds the world how the lack of fraternity between peoples and between men and women is a significant cause of poverty (CV, 19). A poverty of relationships results in many lacking the material basics for life.
Looking back over 2013, everyone recalls the historic moment (11 February) when Benedict XVI announced his courageous decision to step aside as Pope. This gave way to the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Bishop of Rome and successor of Peter. From the very start, the new Holy Father has brought great openness and creative energy to the papacy. Indeed, he has personified the very paternity and fraternity of today’s message – paternal and fraternal concern for one and all.
Three days after his election, Pope Francis met with you, representatives of the media, and explained his choice of a name: Thinking of the poor, I thought of Francis of Assisi. Then I thought of all the wars ... Francis is also the man of peace. That is how the name came into my heart: Francis of Assisi. For me, he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation… (Address to representatives of the communications media, 16 March 2013).
In his first New Year’s message, the Holy Father elaborates on the poor, on peace, and on creation, under the inclusive and meaningful heading of fraternity.
Sections 5-6 of the Message look to the economy for real remedies to poverty. Cooperation in pursuit of the common good must replace harmful rivalries that put everyone at risk. Fraternal relations find expression in social policies that facilitate access; in a more sober lifestyle limited to consuming what is essential; and, at the macro level, in a timely rethinking of our models of economic development.
Sections 7-8 guide us to reduce and eliminate war of every kind, as well as corruption and organized crime. Fraternity overcomes the indifference with which we observe the many wars at a safe distance. It overcomes the tendency to dehumanize and demonize the enemy. It motivates the hard work needed to accomplish non-proliferation and disarmament, including nuclear, chemical, conventional and unmanned weapons, as well as small arms. When it comes to social conflict, fraternity resists corruption, organized crime, and the drug trade; slavery, human trafficking and prostitution; and those forms of economic and financial warfare which are destructive of lives, families and businesses.
Section 9 considers the urgent need to preserve and cultivate nature as our earthly home and the source of all material goods, now and for future generations. In the spirit of fraternity, we must learn to treat the natural environment as a gift from our Creator, to be enjoyed in common, gratefully and justly. Agriculture that produces responsibly, and businesses that see to proper distribution and avoid waste, are necessary expressions of fraternity in today’s world.
Receiving the Message today
A week ago, the great Nelson Mandela closed his eyes for the last time and, as we say in Africa, joined the ancestors. It was my privilege to represent Pope Francis at Tuesday’s memorial in Soweto.
Through the long years of imprisonment, Mandela overcame the temptation to seek revenge. He emerged from prison with the supreme message of reconciliation. For this, the sad truth of the past had to be uncovered and accepted. Only on the basis of truth and reconciliation could the majority of South Africans aspire to a better life. No one should underestimate how much faith, how much courage, how great a spirit it required of Mandela to put into practice the wisdom which he had learned in prison. By his example and leadership, Nelson Mandela facilitated the conversion of hearts away from fratricide….
Conversion of minds and hearts is what Pope Francis is pursuing daily. The message is simple: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another (John 13:34). Fraternity needs to be discovered, experienced, proclaimed and witnessed through love. Bestowed as a gift, God’s love alone enables us to accept our fraternity and express it more and more fully.
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas by offering gifts among friends and relations, it would be good to pause, as Jesus suggests. If you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-24). Today the poor, the excluded, the suffering of our city, of our country, of our world, do have something against us. What they have against us is our failure to respect who, most profoundly, they are – who, most profoundly, we are – namely, brothers and sisters.
In his first World Day of Peace Message, Pope Francis invites us to reflect, to pray, and to act accordingly. Offences against fraternity make a long, sad, shameful catalogue, as we have seen. After each fratricidal crime, God calls out: Where is your brother, where is your sister? The selfish sinful heart snaps back, Am I their keeper? The fraternal heart responds gratefully: Thank you, Father, for making me the keeper of my brothers and sisters! And thank you, too, for making them my keeper!
Cardinal Peter Turkson's Presentation
of the Holy Father's Message for the Day of Peace
It is a great pleasure for me to present the first Message of Pope Francis for the celebration of the World Day of Peace, which will be observed on 1 January 2014. The Holy Father’s Message reflects on the theme of fraternity as the foundation of peace and as the pathway to peace. In my brief presentation, let me begin with some biblical reflections on fraternity, and then review the main points of the Message.
Fraternity according to the Bible
Fraternity is an essential human quality, for we are relational beings. But that does not make fraternity automatic. In our time, as Pope emeritus Benedict XVI pointed out, globalization makes us neighbours but it does not make us brothers (Caritas in veritate, 19). Fraternity is ignored or trampled upon in countless ways throughout history and even today, as the New Year’s Message makes very clear.
In the beginning, the Book of Genesis tells us that Adam and Eve had two sons. Cain and Abel were brothers; the Greek word, adelphos, means to come from the same womb. But the fact of being born siblings did not automatically make them fraternal.
The first sin, the original sin, according to Genesis, was Adam and Eve’s disobedience. They sinned by violating their relationship with God their Creator when they tried to place themselves above God.The second sin was Cain’s violation of his relationship with Abel. Out of jealousy, he murdered his brother. The first crime, therefore, was fratricide. Every taking of an innocent life – whether it is called abortion, murder, or euthanasia –whether it is called crime or starvation or war – is, in fact, fratricide, is it not? How can we fail to recognize that we are brothers and sisters, since we all have the same Father? How can we fail to recognize that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is our brother? By his Cross and Resurrection, he repaired a broken humanity and continually offers everyone the promise of salvation!
Male and female God created us (Gn 1:27), brother and sister he called us to be. Fraternity – treating each other as the brothers and sisters that we are – is our true vocation. We are free to embrace it or reject it. God our Creator has freely made human beings equal in dignity, but not the same. Each one of us is fully loved, not more or less but infinitely, fully, uniquely, and unconditionally.
Yet the evil one seduces us into comparing ourselves with each other! When Cain realized that God had shown favour to Abel, his disappointment fixated on his younger brother who he imagined to be his competitor. Instead of keeping his heart open to God’s love and thanking him for the abundant harvest, Cain unleashed murderous anger against his brother, who, in fact, was totally innocent.
In this Message, the Holy Father asks why there in such a deficit of fraternity in today’s world. Has selfishness blinded us to our fundamental fraternity? Have fear and competitiveness poisoned our incomparable dignity as sons and daughters of God, thus brothers and sisters to each other?
Fraternity according to the Message
Allow me now to highlight some key points of the Message for the World Day of Peace. Pope Francis cites his recent predecessors to expand on the meaning and relevance of fraternity as the foundation and pathway to peace.
Pope Paul VI emphasized integral development: We must work together to build the common future of the human race (Populorum progressio, 43).
Blessed John Paul II called peace an indivisible common good: either it is for all, or it is for none. It can be truly attained only if everyone shows solidarity as a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good (Solicitudo Rei Socialis, 38)
Pope Benedict XVI identified fraternity as a prerequisite for fighting poverty. His encyclical Caritas in Veritate reminds the world how the lack of fraternity between peoples and between men and women is a significant cause of poverty (CV, 19). A poverty of relationships results in many lacking the material basics for life.
Looking back over 2013, everyone recalls the historic moment (11 February) when Benedict XVI announced his courageous decision to step aside as Pope. This gave way to the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Bishop of Rome and successor of Peter. From the very start, the new Holy Father has brought great openness and creative energy to the papacy. Indeed, he has personified the very paternity and fraternity of today’s message – paternal and fraternal concern for one and all.
Three days after his election, Pope Francis met with you, representatives of the media, and explained his choice of a name: Thinking of the poor, I thought of Francis of Assisi. Then I thought of all the wars ... Francis is also the man of peace. That is how the name came into my heart: Francis of Assisi. For me, he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation… (Address to representatives of the communications media, 16 March 2013).
In his first New Year’s message, the Holy Father elaborates on the poor, on peace, and on creation, under the inclusive and meaningful heading of fraternity.
Sections 5-6 of the Message look to the economy for real remedies to poverty. Cooperation in pursuit of the common good must replace harmful rivalries that put everyone at risk. Fraternal relations find expression in social policies that facilitate access; in a more sober lifestyle limited to consuming what is essential; and, at the macro level, in a timely rethinking of our models of economic development.
Sections 7-8 guide us to reduce and eliminate war of every kind, as well as corruption and organized crime. Fraternity overcomes the indifference with which we observe the many wars at a safe distance. It overcomes the tendency to dehumanize and demonize the enemy. It motivates the hard work needed to accomplish non-proliferation and disarmament, including nuclear, chemical, conventional and unmanned weapons, as well as small arms. When it comes to social conflict, fraternity resists corruption, organized crime, and the drug trade; slavery, human trafficking and prostitution; and those forms of economic and financial warfare which are destructive of lives, families and businesses.
Section 9 considers the urgent need to preserve and cultivate nature as our earthly home and the source of all material goods, now and for future generations. In the spirit of fraternity, we must learn to treat the natural environment as a gift from our Creator, to be enjoyed in common, gratefully and justly. Agriculture that produces responsibly, and businesses that see to proper distribution and avoid waste, are necessary expressions of fraternity in today’s world.
Receiving the Message today
A week ago, the great Nelson Mandela closed his eyes for the last time and, as we say in Africa, joined the ancestors. It was my privilege to represent Pope Francis at Tuesday’s memorial in Soweto.
Through the long years of imprisonment, Mandela overcame the temptation to seek revenge. He emerged from prison with the supreme message of reconciliation. For this, the sad truth of the past had to be uncovered and accepted. Only on the basis of truth and reconciliation could the majority of South Africans aspire to a better life. No one should underestimate how much faith, how much courage, how great a spirit it required of Mandela to put into practice the wisdom which he had learned in prison. By his example and leadership, Nelson Mandela facilitated the conversion of hearts away from fratricide….
Conversion of minds and hearts is what Pope Francis is pursuing daily. The message is simple: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another (John 13:34). Fraternity needs to be discovered, experienced, proclaimed and witnessed through love. Bestowed as a gift, God’s love alone enables us to accept our fraternity and express it more and more fully.
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas by offering gifts among friends and relations, it would be good to pause, as Jesus suggests. If you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-24). Today the poor, the excluded, the suffering of our city, of our country, of our world, do have something against us. What they have against us is our failure to respect who, most profoundly, they are – who, most profoundly, we are – namely, brothers and sisters.
In his first World Day of Peace Message, Pope Francis invites us to reflect, to pray, and to act accordingly. Offences against fraternity make a long, sad, shameful catalogue, as we have seen. After each fratricidal crime, God calls out: Where is your brother, where is your sister? The selfish sinful heart snaps back, Am I their keeper? The fraternal heart responds gratefully: Thank you, Father, for making me the keeper of my brothers and sisters! And thank you, too, for making them my keeper!
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