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September 21, 2024Dear brothers and sisters,
"As-salaam 'alaykum". This greeting in Arabic means "peace be upon you". Men and women of all times have always needed peace. Can we separate peace from forgiveness and reconciliation? Conflicts, war, violence have marked every age and every century in the history of humanity starting from the first parents in the garden of Eden. There are too many wounds and too much of loss of life among the different peoples in conflict on earth. There is no peace without reconciliation. The desire for revenge can never achieve peace and reconciliation.
Therefore, in all ages, but above all, in our time that cannot overcome serious geopolitical difficulties, forgiveness, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence between peoples is the road to peace. Without peace there is no future and hope.
If this is true in the macrocosm of international relations, it is even more true in the microcosm, in daily social relations. Even at this level we see a potential for conflict in societies, often due to a culture spreading in the world that emphasizes one’s individuality, isolating themselves from any relationship with others. Most conflicts arise from an individualistic conception of the human person, losing sight of the good of the other. Therefore, all religions have a great potential for reconciliation of human relationships, as a result of the primacy of God in their life.
Every authentic religion refers to God, the transcendent and foundational mystery of all life. Entrusting oneself to God and being in union with God is the foundation of peace. Nothing can replace the bond with God, no material goods. If we are not in harmony with God, we cannot be in harmony with others. Faith in God leads us to look at every man and woman as a brother and sister with whom we can walk together to build a more fraternal world, as stated in the document on human Fraternity signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar in Abu Dhabi in 2019. We are grateful to the rulers of this country for creating a society where we can concretely experience the spirit of this document.
The theme of peace and reconciliation is central to us. Jesus appears not only as a bearer of peace who teaches forgiveness but helps to recognize the origin of evil in disobedience to God, where man wants to replace God and sees others as adversaries. Jesus taught that, “if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also (Mt 5:39),” thus putting an end to the cycle of violence. Jesus loved everyone and accepted to be rejected and unjustly condemned to death, yet forgiving his murderers. In this way Jesus interrupts the logic of revenge with the atonement of sins, promotes the purification of the heart and reconciliation between enemies. In the Bible we find the expression of Jesus: “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven, who makes his sun rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust” (Mt 5:44-45).
Saint Francis of Assisi, who lived in Italy between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, inspired women and men to leave everything to live in poverty and brotherhood. For him the greatest gift was to be a brother. His greeting to every person he met was “may the Lord give you peace”. His journey of conversion from a rich comfortable life to a life of poverty, was to become a man of peace, to be brother of all creation. He personally goes to the Sultan of Egypt Al-Malik Al-Kāmil in Damietta at a time of great conflict and promotes dialogue, respect and peace. His imitation of Christ leads him to have a profoundly harmonious relationship with all men and with all creation.
St Francis composes a canticle, the canticle of Brother Sun, in which he addresses every creature calling them brother and sister. In this song we also find a strong expression on reconciliation when he says: “Praise be to you, my Lord, for those who forgive in the name of your love, and endure pain and illness”. In this poetic text St. Francis even calls death a sister. He is a man at peace, reconciled with himself and with others, with all creation because he is united with God. He is known as a universal brother and promoter of fraternity, overcoming inequalities. Soon a group of followers forms around him, giving rise to an immense brotherhood. He promotes dialogue between people of different religions in his life.
In conclusion, the harmony with God generates harmony between people. This harmony is achieved when forgiveness prevails over hatred. Reconciliation breaks the cycle of violence and revenge, and opens up to fraternal life among all men and with all creation.
All religions are called today to walk together, each with its own spiritual tradition, to promote peace and brotherhood among all peoples. I conclude with the prayer of St Francis: “Lord Make me an instrument of Your Peace”.
