The humble appeal” “

“All of you, hear the humble appeal of the Successor of Peter who cries out: today, at the beginning of the New Year 20004, peace remains possible. And if peace is possible, it is also a duty!” With this appeal John Paul II opens his Message for the Celebration of the 37th World Day of Peace, to be held on 1st January 2004. The message is addressed to all the leaders of the nations who have – writes the Pope – “the duty of promoting peace”; to the jurists “committed to tracing paths to peaceful agreement”, and to the teachers of the young. But the appeal is also addressed to those men and women who are “tempted to turn to the unacceptable means of terrorism”. International law and reform of the UNO. Ensuring that “the law of the more powerful does not prevail” and replacing “the material force of arms with the moral force of law”: that is what John Paul II asks in his message for the World Day of Peace. The Pope appeals to the leaders of the nations to recognise the United Nations which, “even with its limitations and delays”, “has made a notable contribution to the promotion of respect for human dignity, the freedom of peoples, and the requirements of development, thus preparing the cultural and institutional soil for the building of peace”. In this regard, the Pope asks that a reform of the UNO be undertaken as soon as possible, to enable it “to rise more and more above the cold status of an administrative institution and to become a moral centre where all the nations of the world feel at home and develop a shared awareness of being, as it were, a family of nations”. This – adds the Holy Father – is “a clear moral and political objective which calls for prudence and determination”. The deadly scourge of terrorism. “The scourge of terrorism – writes John Paul II – has become more virulent in recent years and has produced brutal massacres which have in turn put ever greater obstacles in the way of dialogue and negotiation, increasing tensions and aggravating problems, especially in the Middle East”. “Even so – continues the Pope – “if it is to be won, the fight against terrorism cannot be limited solely to repressive and punitive operations. It is essential that the use of force, even when necessary, be accompanied by a courageous and lucid analysis of the reasons behind terrorist attacks. The fight against terrorism must be conducted also on the political and educational levels”, by eliminating the underlying causes of situations of injustice” and “by insisting on an education inspired by respect for human life”. The logic of forgiveness. Educating in peace – says John Paul II – is ever more urgent today, “because men and women, in the face of the tragedies that continue to afflict humanity, are tempted to yield to fatalism, as if peace were an unattainable ideal”. And if “law is the first road leading to peace”, “one does not arrive at the end of this road unless justice is complemented by love”. “Historical experience shows this to be true. It shows how justice is frequently unable to free itself from rancour, hatred and even cruelty. By itself, justice is not enough. Indeed, it can betray itself, unless it is open to that deeper power which is love. For this reason I have often reminded Christians and all persons of good will that forgiveness is needed for solving the problems of individuals and peoples. There is no peace without forgiveness! I say it again here, as my thoughts turn in particular to the continuing crisis in Palestine and the Middle East: a solution to the grave problems which for too long have caused suffering for the peoples of those regions will not be found until a decision is made to transcend the logic of simple justice and to be open to the logic of forgiveness“.