"Educating young people in Justice and Peace" is the theme of Pope Benedict’s message
for the 2012 World Peace Day, released by the Vatican on Friday. The message, addressed
to parents, educators and political leaders, as well as to young people themselves,
outlines a holistic vision of education as an inter-generational pursuit of truth
and freedom. But it also contains a call to action to hear the anxieties of young
men and women today and respond to them with generosity, providing practical support
for families and employment opportunities. Noting the rising sense of frustration
within many societies at the growing economic crisis, the Pope says young people,
with their enthusiasm and idealism, can offer new hope to our world. It is essential,
he says, that their idealism, as well as their anxieties, receive due attention at
every level of society. Each one of us, he adds, has the task of communicating to
the next generation, an appreciation for the positive values of life. The World
Peace Day message is published each year by the Pontifical Justice and Peace Council.
Following a press conference on Friday, Philippa Hitchen asked the president of the
Council, Cardinal Peter Turkson about the decision to focus on young people for this
year’s message.
Listen to the interview:
Read Vatican
Radio's summary of the World Peace Day Message:
The Message, on EDUCATING
YOUNG PEOPLE IN JUSTICE AND PEACE, is addressed especially to parents, families
and all those involved in the area of education and formation, as well as to leaders
in the various spheres of religious, social, political, economic and cultural life and
in the media. The Message begins with an introductory paragraph (1) and is organized
into 4 subsequent paragraphs (2-6), each of which has its own heading: (2) Educators;
(3) Educating in truth and freedom; (4) Educating in justice; (5) Educating in
peace; (6) Lifting one’s eyes to God.
The main points of the Message are:
1.
Education is both a right (universal and unqualified with respect to persons’ sex,
religion or social standing), and a duty (of parents, of societies and of those
who receive education). • Real, authentic education is “education in truth and
freedom”, the source of which is God. This includes, essentially, education in
the right use of freedom, which is, “central to the promotion of justice and peace,
which require respect for oneself and others, including those whose way of being
and living differs greatly from one’s own. (Para 3: Educating in truth and freedom)” •
Parents are the first educators: the family is the “first school” of education in
justice and peace. (Para 2: Educators). Those in charge of educational institutions
have a duty to ensure that children are able to receive an education consonant
with their families’ consciences and principles. (ibid.) • Political leaders
must work to guarantee access to education, to support families and institutions
in the mission of education, and to ensure that families be able to choose the
educational structures they consider most suitable for their children. (ibid.)
2.
Justice is neither merely, nor even primarily a human convention: what is just is ultimately
determined by the truth of the human being – it is the integral vision of man that
saves us from falling into a contractual conception of justice and enables us to locate justice
within the horizon of solidarity and love. (Para 4: Educating in justice)
3.
Peace is both divine gift and human task/responsibility: • “We Christians believe
that Christ is our true peace: in him, by his Cross, God has reconciled the world
to himself and has broken down the walls of division that separated us from one
another (cf. Eph 2:14-18); in him, there is but one family, reconciled in love.”
(Para 5: Educating in peace) • “In order to be true peacemakers, we must educate
ourselves in compassion, solidarity, working together, fraternity, to being active
within the community and concerned to raise awareness about national and international
issues and the importance of seeking adequate mechanisms for redistribution of
wealth, the promotion of growth, cooperation for development and conflict resolution.”
(ibid.) • “Peace for all is the fruit of justice for all, and no one can shirk
this essential task of promoting justice, according to one’s particular areas of
competence and responsibility.” (ibid.) The Message also contains, at the end
of Para 2 (addressed to educators), appeals to the world of the media, and to young
people themselves. • To media: “In today’s society the mass media have a particular
role: they not only inform but also form the minds of their audiences, and so they
can make a significant contribution to the education of young people. It is important
never to forget that the connection between education and communication is extremely
close: education takes place through communication, which influences, for better
or worse, the formation of the person.” • To young people: “Young people too
need to have the courage to live by the same high standards that they set for others.
Theirs is a great responsibility: may find the strength to make good and wise use
of their freedom. They too are responsible for their education, including their
education to justice and peace!” The Message concludes with an exhortation under
the heading: Raising one’s eyes to God, in which Pope Benedict calls on everyone,
and young people especially, not to give in to discouragement, nor to seek easy
solutions to difficult problems. “Do not be afraid to make a commitment, to face
hard work and sacrifice, to choose the paths that demand fidelity and constancy,
humility and dedication. Be confident in your youth and its profound desires for happiness,
truth, beauty and genuine love! Live fully this time in your life so rich and so full
of enthusiasm.” (Para 6: Raising one’s eyes to God)