Rome, April 11, 1963 – is simply a peculiar date for a planet that craves peace, but besides fears for atomic conflict even more than today.
"Peace upon the earth, which all men of all times so fervently desired, cannot be built and perpetuated another than by faithful keeping the order established by God." – these are the first words of encyclicals Pacem in terris. John XXIII announced her 2 months before she died, being already highly weakened by cancer. He took the level in what might be considered his will, in the case "Peace between all nations based on truth, justice, love and freedom".
To men of good will
This was the first encyclical of the Roman bishop of the Catholic Church addressed not only to the faithful of his Church, but to all "people of good will." "Good Pope" wrote it shortly after he played an crucial function in averting the Cuban conflict between the US and the USSR, which threatened the planet with atomic destruction. He gained worldwide authority through openness to all people and all cultures.
Faced with the dramatic situation erstwhile the planet virtually stopped breathing in the face of a possible conflict between the 2 blocks, The Pope felt the request to act for peace. On October 25, 1962, on the Vatican Radio, he addressed “all people of good will” a message in French, which had already been handed over to the Ambassadors of the United States and the russian Union: "The Church cares for peace and brotherhood between people more than anything else; and it continually works to strengthen these goods." – said the Pope in a memorable message. "In this context, we have recalled the serious responsibilities of those liable for power – continued – Today we renew this hot appeal and beg the leaders of the states not to stay indifferent to this cry of humanity. Let them do everything in their power to save peace: thus they will save the planet from the horrors of war that no 1 can foretell the terrible consequences of.".
misunderstanding
"Continue negotiations – added Roncalli – Yes, this loyal and open attitude is of large value to the conscience of everyone and to history. Promoting, supporting, accepting negotiations, at all level and at any time, is the norm of wisdom and prudence that attracts the blessings of heaven and earth”. The message was met with the approval of both sides of the conflict and the crisis was averted. russian leader Nikita Khrushchev He ordered a change of course for the ships, and 2 powers agreed to dismantle bases in Cuba as well as American rocket installations in Turkey and Italy.
The importance of the step taken by the Pope, which was recognised only later, is confirmed by the Russian author Anatoly Krasikov, in John XXIII's biography written by Marco Roncalli: "It remains interesting that there is no sign of a affirmative consequence to the papal call for peace in Catholic countries, while the atheist Khrushchev did not have the slightest minute of hesitation to thank the Pope and item his key function in resolving this crisis, which led the planet to the brink of an abyss".
Realism in the Fight for Peace
December 15, 1962 The Pope received thanks from Khrushchev of the following content: “On the occasion of Christmas, I ask you to accept wishes and congratulations (...) for your constant fight for peace, happiness and prosperity”. The dramatic experience further convinced John XXIII to renew his commitment to peace. From this consciousness his encyclical arose Pacem in terris.
The Encyclical for "peace on the ground" calls for widespread disarmament. However, its main intent is not to condemn war, but to describe the conditions that must be fulfilled to preserve peace and avoid war. So it is not an expression of naivety, but of realism – the belief that wars can seldom be avoided at the last minute. Peace is not the absence of war, but the order of the world, in which people are very different from 1 another, and the nations show respect and do not have the intention to depress those who, in their opinion, are wrong.
Dangerous to be behind the room
Today we are in the year 2024 and the same arguments, views and attitudes, and efforts that gained moral authority in 1962, “rewarded” are censorship, persecution, criminal charges, hatred and social lynching. Being behind peace present is simply dangerous. Many of us, as well as the successor of John XXIII – Pope, have found this to be true. Francis.
"I very much want that at this time erstwhile we live, recognizing the dignity of all human being, we should be able to revive the worldly desire of brotherhood among all." – wrote, explaining the reasons why he decided to release his 3rd encyclical, titled Fratelli tutti – about brotherhood and social friendship. He besides pointed out the importance A paper on human brotherhood for planet peace and coexistence, signed with the large imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb On February 4, 2019, in the capital of the United arabian Emirates, Abu Dhabi.
Inadmissibility of war
The causes of the further disintegration of brotherhood among people on earth are besides seen in the failure of the historical sense and the manipulation of words. He regretted the application "political strategy of herniation, irritation and polarisation" And unleashing antagonism. He did not know then how prophetic these words would be a fewer years later, how in his call to start negotiations in Ukraine would be falsely spread throughout the world.
Even then, in this encyclical, Francis points out that Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of the anticipation of legitimate defence utilizing armed forces, nevertheless "in times of improvement of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as fresh technologies, a war was given impossible to control the destructive power that strikes many innocent civilians". "So we can no longer think of war as a solution, due to the fact that the hazard will most likely always outweigh the hypothetical utility that it is assigned. Against this background, it is very hard present to keep the rational criteria that have been developed in erstwhile centuries to talk about the anticipation of a “fair war”. No more war!” (n. 258), writes Francis. “War is simply a failure of politics and humanity, a shameful surrender, a failure in the face of the forces of evil” – notes.
The unification of the Pope warns against the balance of forces based on common intimidation. "International peace and stableness must not be based on a false sense of security, on the threat of common demolition or full destruction, on the simple maintenance of balance of forces" “The Holy Father states that, out of the money utilized so far for arms, he should make a fund for the eventual eradication of hunger and improvement of the poorest countries.
We can say no
After 1945, the planet was to do a lesson. We were going to rebuild this fragile room. Each generation had a mission and purpose: building a better planet than the 1 in which it lived, so that the next generations would have an even better chance of development, prosperity and happy life.
Today we must say to ourselves and admit that the temptation of war is within us erstwhile we see in another man, nation, followers of another religion of the Adversary or enemy. Whether there will be war, it will depend not on us, but on politicians and alternatively not on our Polish, who gave their own spines in exchange for their positions and salaries. But it's up to us how we act all day. It is up to us to give our evidence in our regular lives. We can say war in advance. ‘no’.
It depends on our reasoning and our willingness to act. It's up to each of us.
Do not give up
Joachim Fest in the 1970s he published a biography Adolf Hitler concerning his coming to power in Germany 1933. Fest is 1 of the most prominent biographies and historians who analyzed these times. He wrote this: "With all its propaganda, intimidation, rhetoric and bribery... all this would not give him (Hitler) and would not be adequate for his organization (NSDAP) to gain power – only the resignation and surrender of his opponents, gave him that space to be nominated as Chancellor. Tired of eternal and regular fighting, they gave him what he wanted.”.
If you are opposed to war, do not make the same mistake: never give up, due to the fact that if you quit and if you resign, then you know what will happen.
So let's not halt saying war: “No!”.
David Hermes
