PEACE DAY MESSAGE

(January 30, 2009 )

(Approved English version of the Message No. CP/205/2009, written originally in Konkani language, on the occasion of World Peace Day 2009)
 

January 30, the day of Mahatma Gandhi’s martyrdom, is the Day of Peace for the Church in India. Entire populations in nations living in poverty have a negative bearing on peace: so had late Pope John Paul II expressed in his message for the Day of Peace in 1993.

And people in India are living in excessive poverty!

Drawing upon the fruits of the economic and sociological research, it is clear that poverty has many factors. Yet the reference to globalization should also alert us to the spiritual and moral implications of the question; there is evidence of a certain type of marginalization, as well as affective, moral and spiritual poverty, seen in people whose interior lives are disoriented. Not even economically prosperous nations are spared from this malaise. It is a malaise which prevails, whether the nations are poor or bask on overdevelopment.

And that poverty prevails because of greed is, indeed, an insult and shame to humanity.

Poverty needs to be analysed in its various perspectives. One is the prevailing understanding that overpopulation is one of its important causes. And that is the reason why we see means being used to reduce the human birthrate in ways that offend the dignity of women and of parents too. Resources to solve the problem of poverty do exist, even in the face of an increasing population. Indeed, the higher birth-rate, far from being a liability, is a gift to our nation. There are situations where people are threatened by pandemic diseases. Such threats need to be addressed by ensuring the necessary basic healthcare to all. Also, the present food  

crisis jeopardises the life of the poor, in the first place. When poverty srikes the family, it is the child who is the first victim. Where the dignity of the woman and of the mother is offended, it is again the child who ultimately suffers. It is imperative, therefore, that as we work for peace, we should be particularly concerned about the children.

The relationship between armament and development needs to be analysed in an ethical perspective. Money overspent in defence is money denied to the needs of citizens. Nations seem to be locked in a maddening arms race. If neighbouring countries had to nurture mutual trust and understanding, a united fight against poverty would have greatly contributed towards world peace.

Financial institutions are powerful means for true development. Sadly, today’s financial transactions are often ruled by speculations which are volatile, resulting into bankruptcy of prominent business concerns; this in turn has raised even more the number of the poor. And this is the scenario both at the national and the international level.

Poverty in the world has been ever growing. And the Church has never stopped teaching about these social issues since Rerum Novarum (1891). Taking sides with the poor and the marginalized, she has taught that the struggle against poverty requires that financial, political, cultural and social institutions be founded on ethical principles.

I urge that the principles enunciated in this message be guiding principles for those who lead our parishes, convents, educational institutions and other associations, so that, through collaborative action, they may take steps to improve the condition of the poor among them.

Jesus came to establish Peace. We, as his emissaries and witnesses, are called to spread it. Such work ought to be promoted in collaboration with followers of other faiths; and I earnestly desire that the Parish Social Apostolate Fora established in our parishes get increasingly involved in this activity.

We have an open challenge to uproot the poverty in the world. A deeper awareness of our universal brotherhood and sisterhood would increase our mutual trust and strengthen world peace in such a way that we would not have to spend so much on defence. Let us pray to the God who showers peace that it may reign in each person’s heart and its effect overflow into the nations of this world.

Archbishop’s House, Panjim, Goa, January 28, 2009.

Sd/-
+ Filipe Neri Ferrão

Archbishop of Goa and Daman