Ciarán Ó’Seanáin

Pope Leo XIV: "There is no such thing as a Holy War: only peace is holy." Marking the 40th Anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace held in Assisi led by Pope John Paul II with the leaders of world religions, cults and sects, Pope Leo XIV says: "Dear brothers and sisters, You are gathered in Assisi forty years after the World Day of Prayer for Peace held on 27 October 1986.  That event was initiated by Saint John Paul II, who on that occasion emphasized the intrinsic bond between a genuine religious attitude and a keen sense of peace. I extend my cordial greetings to the Patriarchs and religious leaders, many of whom have actively taken part in the various days of prayer and dialogue that have been held over the years.  I also warmly greet His Excellency Felice Accrocca, Bishop of Assisi, the Franciscan Families and all those in attendance.  I would very much like to have been with you at the tomb of Saint Francis on this important anniversary, to see your faces and bear witness together to the fact that living as brothers and sisters is already possible! I thank the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and the Community of Sant’Egidio for their commitment to continuing along the path laid out by my predecessors.  I am heartened by the long and faithful journey made over these years, which has borne much fruit.  Pope Francis said of that unforgettable day in October 1986: "It should not and could not have remained an isolated event.  You have continued on this path and have increased its momentum." Indeed, following that first historic meeting, Saint John Paul II called for us to “continue to live the spirit of Assisi” (Address to Leaders of the World Religions in Assisi, 26 October 1986).  That was at the time of the Cold War, a very different situation from the one we face today.  After 1989, many believed that globalization would ensure lasting peace for the world.  Unfortunately, as I wrote in Magnifica Humanitas, “an almost blind faith was placed in the ability of the markets to generate prosperity, democracy and stability. In reality, rather than automatically generating unity and peace, globalization has provoked fundamentalist, identity-based and nationalistic reactions.” Against this backdrop, there has been “troubling revival of war as an instrument of international politics.” As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “the accumulation of arms strikes many as a paradoxically suitable way of deterring potential adversaries from war. They see it as the most effective means of ensuring peace among nations,” thus betraying the memory of the twentieth century and the senseless slaughter of millions of human lives.  Precisely in these times marked by a “culture of power,” there is a need to cultivate the spirit of Assisi, which entails a rejection of the religious justification of war, a spirit of mediation and dialogue, and contemplative reflection combined with creative action in the service of a future of peace.  Yes, peace must once again become the common ideal of all peoples, the guiding star for all our choices, the standard that exposes injustice, and the shared horizon for all. We must rebuild peace everywhere, not prepare for more wars.  War can never be waged in the name of God.  For us believers, to fight in the name of religion means attacking religion itself. There is no such thing as a holy war: only peace is holy. That is why the journey begun in Assisi as a shared quest for peace is, first and foremost, the path of prayer.  Prayer may seem weak in the face of the powers of the world, but it is the humble strength of believers.  Let us turn to God, the giver of peace, that he may touch the hearts of those who seek war and terrorism.  Let us not forget that prayer is never in vain. Indeed, prayer is a school of dialogue with God, with people and with all creatures. Let us think of Saint Francis, whose death we have commemorated on his eight-hundredth anniversary.”