change language
you are in: home - news newslettercontact uslink

Support the Community

  
September 7 2014

Riccardi: «In front of the most inhuman conflicts we reaffirm that there is never war and violence in the name of God»

 
printable version

“The strength of the spirit of Assisi lies in confirming that there is no such thing as war or violence in the name of God”. This is all the more true in the face of “the most inhuman wars” and of “violations of the very rules of war established by the Geneva conventions on the treatment of prisoners and injured war casualties as well as human rights”, according to Prof. Andrea Riccardi.

 

Riccardi was addressing the inaugural session of the Interfaith and International Peace Conference organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio on the theme Peace is the Future; Religions and Cultures in Dialogue 100 years after World War I taking place until September 9 in Antwerp, Belgium

 

The founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio admitted that talking about peace today may appear to be wishful thinking: “War has returned to Europe between Russia and Ukraine – he said – the map of the Middle East has fallen apart in two years, while persecuted refugees are fleeing from North Iraq. Syria is in the throes of an atrocious and inhumane war. Painful stories stem from the rehabilitation of the instrument of war as well as the mixture of war and violence” .

 

The barbarity of the current wars – Riccardi continued – is demonstrated  “by the exhibition of cruelty, up to now generally hidden by the perpetrators, used as an arm in a global world: slaughtering and showing off the horror (men and women humiliated, dragged out of their homes, undressed, shot or worse) is true terrorism”.

 

In the face of this reality Riccardi recalled that during his trip home from Korea, Pope Francis referred to today’s conflicts almost as if he were speaking of a fragmentary third World War. “Against this background we ask ourselves – Riccardi commented - does peace really represent our future?”

 

 “Along the path that stretches from Assisi 1986 – he  continued – we have understood from year to year that peace is a matter too serious to be left to just a few”. John Paul II said at the time: “Peace is a construction yard open to everyone, not just to specialists, experts and strategists”. Thus springs this movement of peace and dialogue, which has witnessed many tough scenarios.

 

Riccardi concluded his remarks by saying “Still more than yesterday, we are convinced that peace is a great ideal that can inspire politics and personal lives. Peace is an ideal that has been trampled upon in too many regions of the world: it must rise again!

 


 ALSO READ
• NEWS
November 11 2014
OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO

Also in Burkina Faso "Peace is the Future": representatives of the religions come together in the Spirit of Assisi

IT | EN | ES | DE | FR | PT
October 31 2014
SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR

The Spirit of Assisi in El Salvador: religions committed to building a future of peace

IT | EN | ES | FR | PT
September 22 2014
NAKURU, KENYA

The message of Antwerp 2014 reaches Kenya: Peace is the Future

IT | EN | ES | DE | FR | PT
September 22 2014
PRINCETON, UNITED STATES

Poverty and peacemaking: a two days conference, a message of peace

IT | EN | ES | FR | PT
September 15 2014
BUKAVU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

The Spirit of Assisi in the heart of Africa: Meeting for Peace in Bukavu

IT | EN | ES | DE | FR | PT | CA
September 13 2014
HAVANA, CUBA

Men and women of different religions in Havana, at the invitation of Sant'Egidio to say #peaceisthefuture

IT | EN | ES | DE | FR | PT | CA
all the news
• PRINT
December 28 2014
La Vanguardia

"La paz es el futuro"

October 21 2014
Internazionale

Sant'Egidio ricorda Christophe De Margerie

October 8 2014
La Croix du Benin

Sant'Egidio organise une rencontre interreligieuse à Fidjrossè

October 1 2014
Rocca

Anversa.Audacia di una pace complessa

September 28 2014
Catalunya Cristiana

Construir un futur sense guerra

September 26 2014
Il Ticino

Voci da tutto il mondo contro gli orrori della guerra

all press releases
• EVENTS
October 5 2014 | BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

La Paz es el Futuro: incontro interreligioso per la pace a Buenos Aires

September 27 2014 | MOZAMBIQUE

Da Anversa al Mozambico: Peace is the Future a Nampula e Quelimane

ALL MEETINGS OF PRAYER FOR PEACE
• DOCUMENTS

Antwerp 2014 Peace is The future - Programme EN

Antwerpen 2014 Programma in Italiano

all documents