Following the message of Pope John Paul II on Christmas and New Year's day, the "Osservatore Romano" published the following editorial.
perverse mentality of war, terrorism, aggression and bloodshed, throws menacing shadows of sadness on the dawn of the new year. We are becoming hardened to thoughts of war, the inevitability of a war, the ineluctability of this or that guerilla conflict. Almost normal appears the desert of death which day after day distorts the land where the Babe, the Prince of Peace was born. We are not over disturbed by the homicidal arrogance of those who are convinced they have a right to play with the destiny of peoples infringing sacred dignity and
rights.
It is a firm conviction: for peace there is no alternative. A conviction sustained by faith and hope, particularly in this Year of the Rosary.
Nevertheless from the heart of humanity there rises, painful and loud, a cry for peace. This is the cry of the many who fail to make the skin-deep news reports but are the protagonists of history. It is the cry of the humble which the pride of the so-called powerful tries to suffocate.
It is a firm conviction: for peace there is no alternative. A conviction sustained by faith and hope, particularly in this Year of the Rosary declared by Pope John Paul II to "invoke from God the gift of Peace".
It is necessary to reverse the course: to change from the violent course towards war to the longed-for route to peace. A historical navigation which goes beyond petty-minded coasting and follows instead the ever more frequent calls from the only true Custodian of peace: John Paul II.
The Gospel is young", he said a few days ago. And with the Gospel, we could say, peace too is young. It is young because it belongs to those men and women who are young at heart, whatever their age, and therefore savor the taste of the future".
(From Fides)