"A LONG AND DEMANDING BATTLE"

Peace is the outcome of a long and demanding battle which is only won when evil is defeated by good.

PROMOTE PEACE WITH GOODNESS

Peace is a good to be promoted with good: it is a good for individuals, for families, for nations and for all humanity; yet it is one which needs to be maintained and fostered by decisions and actions inspired by good.

VIOLENCE "NEVER SOLVES PROBLEMS"

To attain the good of peace there must be a clear and conscious acknowledgment that violence is an unacceptable evil and that it never solves problems.

PEACE AND THE COMMON GOOD

Fostering peace by overcoming evil with good requires careful reflection on the common good and on its social and political implications. When the common good is promoted at every level, peace is promoted.

"HUMBLE TRUST"

Faced with the many tragic situations present in the world, Christians confess with humble trust that God alone can enable individuals and peoples to overcome evil and achieve good.

"AN INVINCIBLE HOPE"

Based on the certainty that evil will not prevail, Christians nourish an invincible hope which sustains their efforts to promote justice and peace.

BUILDING A BETTER WORLD

Despite the personal and social sins which mark all human activity, hope constantly gives new impulse to the commitment to justice and peace, as well as firm confidence in the possibility of building a better world.

LOVE AND PEACE

When good overcomes evil, love prevails and where love prevails, there peace prevails.

"REDIRECTING THE COURSE OF HISTORY"

Christians ... should show by their lives that love is the only force capable of bringing fulfillment to persons and societies, the only force capable of redirecting the course of history in the way of goodness and peace.

(Source: Message for Day of Peace, issued December 8, 2004)