Nonviolence: A style of politics for peace, the 2017 World Day of Peace message.
When is the World Day of Peace? The Catholic Church celebrates the World Day of Peace every year on 1 January.
Inspired by both St. Pope John XXIII’s encyclical Pacem in terris and his own encyclical Populorum progressio, Pope Paul VI introduced the commemoration of the World Day of Peace in 1967.
See a selection of quotes from recent popes on peace and nonviolence.
How can we celebrate “Nonviolence: A style of politics for peace”? The Catholic Nonviolence Initiative has easy-to-use resources for individuals, families, parishes, schools and communities.
- Action suggestions, prayer (download and distribute) from Catholic Nonviolence Initiative-U.S.
- Two-page resource, based on document created by the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
- Discussion guide from the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council
- El Día Mundial de la Paz 2017 recurso, dos páginas
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La Journée Mondiale de la Paix 2017 ressource, deux pages
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Observe a Year of Peace and Nonviolence, from the Sisters of St. Joseph
- World Day of Peace litany of disarmament (download and use) based on litany written for the International Day of Peace 2016
- Celebrating World Day of Peace with children (download and distribute) from Catholic Nonviolence Initiative-U.S. and Little Friends for Peace
- Celebrating World Day of Peace in your parish (download and distribute) from Pax Christi UK
- World Day of Peace 2017 prayer card (download and distribute) from Pax Christi UK
- World Day of Peace 2017 Peace Sunday booklet (download and distribute) from Pax Christi UK
- World Day of Peace 2017 resources and more from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Gewaltlosigkeit: Stil einer Politik für den Frieden: Aufruf zum Weltfriedenstag 2017 (Herunterladen und verbreiten)
- Não-violência ativa e criativa caminho para construir a paz (Pax Christi Portugal)
Commentaries and news on the 2017 World Day of Peace message
- Pope Francis’s peacebuilding pedagogy, by Gerald Schabach
- Opening wide the door of gospel nonviolence, by Eli McCarthy
- The centrality of gospel nonviolence, by Marie Dennis
- Pax Christi welcomes Pope Francis’ message on nonviolence, a Vatican Radio interview with Marie Dennis
- How to recommit ourselves to Gospel nonviolence, by Pat Gaffney
- This World Day of Peace, let us follow Pope Francis’ radical call to nonviolence, by Brian Terrell
- Turning away from centuries of just war theory, posted in the San Antonio Express News
- Reflecting on Pope Francis’ 2017 World Day of Peace message, by Tony Magliano
- Francis calls on Christians to embrace nonviolence in World Day of Peace message, by Joshua McElwee
- Leaders of microstate San Marino back Francis’ message on nonviolence, by Joshua McElwee
- Le pape François fait l’éloge de la non-violence à l’occasion de la 50ème journée mondiale de la paix, par Alain Refalo
- Promouvoir la non-violence, par Jean-Marie Muller
Go deeper: Themes, handouts, stories and practices for active Catholic nonviolence
- The courageous nonviolence of Jesus (download and distribute) from Pax Christi UK
- Stories of nonviolence in action (download and distribute) from Pax Christi UK
- Parish action kit (download and distribute) from Pax Christi UK
- The two hands of active nonviolence (download and distribute) from Pax Christi UK
- Quotes from Pope Francis on peace and nonviolence
- What is active nonviolence? (download and distribute)
- What is trauma healing? (download and distribute)
- What is restorative justice? (download and distribute)
- What is unarmed civilian protection? (download and distribute)
- What is nonviolent resistance? (download and distribute)
- What is a just peace approach? (download and distribute)
Suggested books from Pace e Bene:
- The Faithful Nonviolence of Jesus, Sr. Nancy Shreck, OSF, reprinted from From Violence to Wholeness: A Ten-Part Process in the Spirituality and Practice of Active Nonviolence, Ken Butigan with Patricia Bruno (Pace e Bene Press, 1999).
- The Nonviolent Life, by Fr. John Dear (Pace e Bene Press, 2013)
- The Beatitudes of Peace, by Fr. John Dear (Twenty-Third Publications, 2015)
- Walking the Way: Following Jesus on the Lenten Journey of Gospel Nonviolence to the Cross and Resurrection, by Fr. John Dear (Twenty-Third Publications, 2015)
- From Violence to Wholeness: A 10-part process in the spirituality and practice of active nonviolence, Ken Butigan with Patricia Bruno (Pace e Bene Press, 1996)
- Engage: Exploring nonviolent living, Laura Slattery, Ken Butigan, Veronica Pelicaric, Ken Preston (Pace e Bene Press, 2005)
Read the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative’s press release on the World Day of Peace 2017 message here.