"The first kind of communion among people is the one which love arises between a man and a woman who intend to join up permanently to build up a new family. However, the peoples of the Earth are also asked to establish relationships based on solidarity and collaboration. Those are the relationships fitting the sole human family". Those words were written by Benedict XVI at the beginning of his message: "Human Family, A Peace Community" on the occasion of the World Peace Day which is going to be celebrated on January 1st, 2008. "The natural family as intimate communion for life and peace, based on the marriage between a man and a woman stated the Pope in the message made known today is ‘the primary element for the humanization of the person and society’". In fact, "in a sound family life, one has the opportunity of experiencing some fundamental components of peace", such as justice and love among brothers, the function of authority expressed by parents, the lovely service to the weakest members, mutual help relating to the necessities of life, readiness to welcome the neighbour. For this reason, stated the Pope, "the family is the first and irreplaceable educator to peace". And "it is the foundation of society", because "it allows the people to enjoy crucial experiences of peace. As a consequence, the human community cannot go without the service provided by the family". (To be continued)
