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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)   
      
   SUMMARY   
      
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    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)