In the preface of a book in Italian titled, Per un sapere della pace (For Knowledge of Peace), Pope Francis encourages collaboration between the Church and universities for a world without war and violence.
In this preface, Pope Francis reiterates the need to invest in the younger generations to address the challenges posed by climate change, war, and violence prevailing in various societies nowadays.
Pope Francis’ call on the generations to come to take the reins and help solve the current world problems-- including global peace, harmony, the environment, the defence of life and human and civil rights--is quite logical because the new generations are the ones who shoulder the responsibilities of the world affairs as well serve to extricate the world from the disasters looming in the horizon. This path is urgently needed to heed as there is no time to waste. The world is currently going through a stage of major instability with conflagrations prevailing in several Middle Eastern countries, and instability gripping other parts of the world.
Unless the generations to come are kept abreast of the lurking dangers, a serious downfall is imminent. The world needs mature leaders who have wise recognition of the dangers lying ahead and who can bring about feasible solutions.
Furthermore, the Pope highlights the need for collaboration between the Church and universities for a world without war and violence. This suggestion is quite logical because the cooperation between the Church and universities in this regard will definitely bear fruit. It is valid since the Church has over the years been supportive of peace and love according to the teaching of Lord Jesus Christ as mentioned in the Holy Bible. The Church preaches love, peace, charity and abstinence from violence in addition to the care for the environment in accordance with Laudato Si--the second encyclical of Pope Francis, launched on May 24, 2015--in which he critiques consumerism and irresponsible development; laments environmental degradation and global warming; and calls on all people of the world to take swift and unified global action.
The Pope’s call for global peace, will ultimately shove the world into an era of prosperity with armies joining the global workforce and working for the prosperity of humanity.
This is reminiscent of this Biblical verse:
Isaiah2:4: “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.
Furthermore, Jesus Christ said, “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. (John 14:27)
Will the world leaders heed the Pope’s call for peace?
