"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", is the appeal of H. E. Archbishop-Patriarch, M. Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrao, on the occasion of the Peace Day in India on January 30, day of the martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi.

In a message addressed to Parish Priests, Religious men and women, lay faithful and women and men of good will, the Archbishop analysing the poverty also wrote: "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."

Archbishop Filipe Neri also recalled the present financial crises as he reminded that the "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."

Fr. Francisco Caldeira,
Director,
DCSCM