Daring Peace

I have been deeply impressed by Pope Leo XIV’s leadership as a figure committed to fostering peace and reconciliation in our troubled world. During his meeting with leaders from the world’s major religions at the Colosseum in Rome on October 28, titled “Daring Peace,” he made a powerful appeal, stating, “The world is thirsting for peace. We need a true and sound era of reconciliation that puts an end to the abuse of power, displays of force, and indifference to the rule of law. Enough of war, with all the pain it causes through death, destruction, and exile!”

Present at this meeting were religious leaders from various Christian denominations as well as from major global faiths, including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism. They gathered to pray for peace in accordance with their respective traditions.

The Pope remarked, “We express not only our firm desire for peace but also our conviction that prayer is a powerful force for reconciliation. Prayer is a movement of the spirit and an opening of the heart. It is not shouting words, displaying behaviors, or using religious slogans against God’s creatures… Prayer changes the course of history.”

The following day, October 29, during the Wednesday Papal Audience, where religious leaders were also present, Pope Leo reiterated the urgent need to be agents of peace in the world. Citing the Second Vatican Council 1965 document “Nostra Aetate” (In Our Time), he stated, “The spirit of ‘Nostra Aetate’ continues to illuminate the path of the Church,” recognizing that all religions can reflect “a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men,” as cited in the document. He emphasized that now, more than ever, the world’s religions need to act together: “Our world needs our unity, our friendship, and our collaboration. Each one of our religions can contribute to alleviating human suffering and caring for our common home, our planet Earth. Our respective traditions teach truth, compassion, reconciliation, justice, and peace. We must reaffirm our service to humanity at all times.”

What remarkable and bold statements from Pope Leo XIV! I hope that our world leaders will continue to make similar appeals, particularly to nations embroiled in conflict. I also hope that Catholic bishops around the world will follow the example of the Holy Father by preaching about this urgent need for peace.

In our parish and community, we must cultivate the need for peace and nurture peacemakers. We can achieve this simply by being kind and welcoming to one another. Furthermore, we should continue to promote interfaith dialogue and collaborate with other churches on initiatives for justice and peace, such as our recent Crop Walk. It is essential to listen to one another about how our parish can serve as a catalyst for peace and justice.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica this Sunday, the cathedral church of the Pope as the Bishop of Rome, we are reminded that each of us is a “house of God” or a spiritual temple where the Holy Spirit dwells. In honoring the “mother church of all churches” and acknowledging the historical significance of the first major church built after Christianity was legalized by Emperor Constantine, we commit ourselves to dialogue with other religions and to work together to bring peace and reconciliation to the world.

Blessings!