Pope Francis: efforts for peace and justice begin at home

In his January 1 Angelus address, Pope Francis said that the same Holy Spirit who made the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary fruitful also inspires the efforts of peacemakers.

Recalling the theme of his message for the 47th World Day of Peace, the Pope emphasized the fraternity of all people, since “we are all children of our Heavenly Father, we are part of the same human family, and we share a common destiny.” All are responsible to work for a world that “becomes a community of brothers who respect each other, accept each other’s differences, and take care of each other.”

“From every corner of the earth, believers today raise the prayer to ask the Lord for the gift of peace,” the Pope added. In seeking justice and peace, he emphasized that “we must begin at home.”

Pope Francis concluded by entrusting to the Virgin Mary the “cries for peace of populations oppressed by war and violence, so that the courage of dialogue and reconciliation prevails over temptations of revenge, of arrogance, of corruption. We ask her that the Gospel of fraternity announced and witnessed by the Church will speak to every conscience and break down the walls that prevent enemies from recognizing each other as brothers.”