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                               VIS-Press releases

COMMITMENT FROM EVERYONE IS NEEDED TO ACHIEVE PEACE

VATICAN CITY, 1 JAN 2011 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at 10 a.m. today,
Benedict XVI presided at a Eucharistic celebration for the Solemnity of Mary
Mother of God and the forty-fourth World Day of Peace.

In his homily the Pope explained how the Church today asks the Lord "to bless
this new year in the awareness that, in the face of the tragic events of
history, in the face of the logic of war which unfortunately has not yet been
completely overcome, only God can profoundly touch the human soul and ensure
hope and peace for humankind".

And he continued: "It is in fact a consolidated tradition on the first day of
the year for the Church throughout the world to raise a choral prayer for
peace. It is a good idea to begin a new stage of the journey by decisively
following the path of peace. Today we wish to echo the cry of so many men and
women, children and elderly people, who are victims of war, which is the most
horrific and violent face of history. Today we pray that the peace which the
angels announced to the shepherds on Christmas night may reach everywhere. For
this reason, particularly through our prayers, we wish to help all individuals
and peoples, especially those in positions of power, to follow the path of
peace with ever greater commitment".

"The title of 'Mother of God', as emphasised in today's liturgy, underlines the
Holy Virgin's unique mission in the history of salvation; the mission which
lies at the basis of the veneration and devotion Christian people show towards
her. Mary, in fact, did not receive God's gift for herself but to bring it into
the world. ... And it is in the name of Mary, Mother of God and of mankind,
that, since 1 January 1968, the World Day of Peace has been celebrated
throughout the world".

Having then recalled the theme of his Message for the 2011 World Day of Peace -
"Religious Freedom. The Path to Peace" - the Holy Father
highlighted how "peace
is a gift of God. ... It is also a human value to be achieved at a social and
political level, but it has its roots in the mystery of Christ".

"'The world needs God", he said quoting his Message. "It
needs universal,
shared ethical and spiritual values, and religion can offer a precious
contribution to their pursuit, for the building of a just and peaceful social
order at the national and international levels'. For this reason I also
emphasised how religious freedom 'is an essential element of a constitutional
State; it cannot be denied without at the same time encroaching on all
fundamental rights and freedoms, since it is their synthesis and keystone'".

Benedict XVI continued his homily: "Humankind must not resign itself to the
negative power of selfishness and violence; it must not become accustomed to
conflicts which cause victims and put the future of peoples at risk. Faced with
the ominous tensions of the present time, and especially with religious abuses
and intolerance which today particularly strike Christians, once again I make a
pressing appeal not to succumb to discouragement and resignation.

"I encourage everyone", he added in conclusion, "to pray
that the efforts being
made on many sides to promote and construct peace in the world may reach a
fruitful conclusion. In this difficult task words are not enough, we need
concrete and constant commitment from the leaders of nations. But above all it
is vital that everyone be animated by an authentic spirit of peace, which must
be implored ever and anew in prayer and put into practice in daily life in all
times and places".
HML/VIS 20110103 (630)

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