Since the outset of Pope Francis’ pontificate, he has been extending God's mercy worldwide while trying to extinguish violence flaring in various parts of the world. He focused all the time on giving a helping hand to all world countries that suffer from chronic problems and instabilities either by paying visits to these countries or by praying fervently seeking the Lord's help and mercy.
During his visits to one country after the other, he appealed for attaining fraternal relations among peoples, for combating poverty, as well as for restoring peace among world countries. Whenever a problem arises in any part of the world, he has a say that instills love, helps quell violence, and restores peace in his capacity as the descendent of St. Peter.
In the wake of the violence that has erupted in various parts of Jerusalem, the Pope called on Sunday, May 9, for the attainment of peace, and for a shared solution to the violence, while he urged all parties to seek a common solution and put aside violence.
He said, “I pray that the city might be a place of encounter and not of violent clashes, a place of prayer and peace.” He also invited everyone to seek shared solutions, so that the multi-religious and multi-cultural identity of the Holy City might be respected and that fraternity might prevail.
Over the years, Jerusalem has been gripped by violence while undergoing a state of instability. This holy city has been the scene of suffering since the time when Lord Jesus shed His precious blood on the Cross to save humanity and establish peace based on love and harmony among peoples. He gave His peace saying, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Pope Francis' call for peace in Jerusalem is a tangible reiteration of what the Prince of Peace stated years ago. The call for peace is a divine message since, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."
On May 25, 2014, Pope Francis extended an invitation to the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to travel to the Vatican for a "peace initiative". His remarks came at the end of an outdoor Holy Mass in Bethlehem's Manger Square on the second day of his three-day trip to the Middle East.
"I offer my home in the Vatican as a place for this encounter of prayer," he said adding that, "building peace is difficult, but living without peace is a constant torment. The men and women of these lands, and of the entire world, all of them, ask us to bring before God their fervent hopes for peace."
On the anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi's death, October 3, Pope Francis signed his encyclical "Fratelli tutti" (All Brothers), whose central theme is that our common belonging makes us brothers and sisters. It accentuates the fact that fraternity is a step leading to the horizon of a fulfilled and happy humanity. This is the right time to view fraternity and social friendship as what actually unites people.
Will the world leaders delve into this encyclical and accordingly take necessary steps leading to the entrenchment of fraternity which leads global peace, prosperity, common living among all peoples?
Violence breeds violence, yet peace breeds love and fraternal relations. We are also brethren in humanity, so let us declare our brotherhood for "He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4)
May Pope Francis' calls for peace be heeded, so that justice, love and harmony would prevail among all peoples who are all brothers.
