Pope Francis Calls on Regular People to Take Charge of Peace at Verona Event
By Devin Watkins
Over 12,500 individuals gathered in Verona for the “Arena of Peace – Justice and Peace Shall Embrace” event, presided for the first time by Pope Francis. The ancient Roman amphitheater served as the backdrop for the nearly two-hour-long event, during which the Pope engaged with various roundtable discussions on topics like migration, economy, environment, and disarmament.
Empowering Society through Authority
Addressing a question on leadership for peace, Pope Francis highlighted the importance of communal participation over individual heroism in building solid peace processes. He emphasized the need for valuing each individual’s contributions and fostering trust to create a peaceful society.
Standing in Solidarity with Migrants
In response to a query on standing with forced migration victims, the Pope reiterated the Gospel’s call to support the marginalized. He emphasized the need to listen to and respect the dignity of migrants in order to eliminate war and violence.
Prioritizing Environmental Justice
When questioned on activating politicians for just relationships, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of slowing down to care for peace, advocating for dialogue and recognition of others to build peaceful communities.
Embracing Diversity for Peace
Encouraging the acceptance of varying viewpoints as a means to build peace, the Pope warned against suppressing tensions, which could lead to violent outbursts. He stressed the importance of embracing conflicts without the fear of differences, as long as they remain non-violent.
Witnessing Pain and Reconciliation
Amid a poignant moment shared by an Israeli and a Palestinian, who both lost loved ones to conflict, Pope Francis witnessed the power of reconciliation and called for prayers for peace. He commended their shared pain as a testament to the necessity of peace in war-torn regions.
Empowerment of the People for Peace
Concluding the event, Pope Francis expressed his belief in regular people holding the key to global peace, rather than relying solely on world leaders. He emphasized the importance of dialogue over ideology, promoting hope as the foundation for building a peaceful future.
Peace, he asserted, cannot be achieved through fear and hostility, but only through trust and dialogue among communities. Let us sow hope, not destruction, for a peaceful tomorrow.
