The Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan has presented Pope Francis’ Message for the World Day of Peace marked on January 1, 2020 which is titled, “Peace as a Journey of Hope: Dialogue, Reconciliation and Ecological Conversion”.

CCSM Director Fr. Dr. Rif’at Bader said that Pope Francis stresses that peace is a great and precious value, the object of hope and the aspiration of the entire human family in view of the devastating wars and conflicts that deny great numbers of men and women, young and old from dignity, physical integrity, freedom, including religious freedom, communal solidarity and hope in the future.

Pope Francis points out that war often begins with the inability to accept the diversity of others, which then fosters attitudes of aggrandizement and domination. He says, “War is born of selfishness and pride, hatred and the desire to caricature, exclude and even destroy the other. War is fueled by a perversion of relationships, by hegemonic ambitions, by abuses of power, by fear of others and by seeing diversity as an obstacle.”

In the Pope’s message for Peace 2020, the Pope called for the urgent need to attain genuine brotherhood which we practise through dialogue and mutual confidence with the others. Consequently, the world needs not empty words but convinced witnesses, peacemakers who are open to a dialogue that rejects exclusion or manipulation, and to launching the culture of encounter among brothers and sisters that turn every encounter into an opportunity and a generous gift from God leading us into transcending our confined views in order to always seek global brotherhood.

The papal message indicates that what applies to peace in the economic fields is valid in the political, economic and environmental fields beacuse the issue of peace applies to all aspects of social life. There will never be genuine peace if we cannot establish a more fair economic system which involves appreciation for the public goodness, the common home, and the preservation of nature which is the gift of the Almighty God, the source of every life to our present and the future of our children.

Concluding, Fr. Bader said, “As we are on the threshold of the New Year 2020, which marks the start of the third decade in the third millennium, the CCSM is pleased to convey greetings to the extended Jordanian family with the advent of the new year, namely the year in which we recall the 20th anniversary of the visit of Saint Pope John Paul II, who paid tribute to Jordan for the hospitality and openness, and recall the 20th anniversary of the start of the holy pilgrimage to the Baptism Site.”

Furthermore, the CCSM conveys sincere wishes to His Majesty King Abdullah II–the custodian of the holy places and the 2019 recipient of the Lamp of Peace award, in recognition of his relentless efforts to promote human rights, harmony, and peace in the Middle East and the world, and to Crown Prince Hussein Ben Abdullah. Further greetings are extended to all those who strive to serve the homeland and protect it, as well as to the security apparatuses that have been vigilant during prayers held at churches during Christmas celebrations. It is hoped that the new year would be a year of peace and security.

Happy New Year 2020

Amman-The Catholic Center for Studies and Media

Source: en.abouna.org