Pax Christi Pope Francis and the call to nonviolence This presentation tells the story of Pax Christi’s origins and our work, both internationally and in the UK, today.

What they say about war and peace Margaret Mizen What they say about war and peace Harry Patch

Jesus Pope Francis St Martin of Tours Harry Patch Malala Yousafza What they say about war and peace Jesus Pope Francis St Martin of Tours Harry Patch Malala Yousafza Kate Monkhouse Margaret Mizen

World War II The international movement Pax Christi – the Peace of Christ – has its origins in the second world war. With the use of new and deadly technology, 50 million people, 25 million of them civilians were killed … In campaigns of carpet bombing over European cities…through the first use of nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki…and in the concentration camps in Germany and Poland.

Pax Christi – a human, faith based response to war Martha Dortel-Claudot Meanwhile, in France in 1944 a teacher from Toulouse, Madame Martha Dortel Claudot offered a human response to the great mental and spiritual rift created between the people of France and Germany. With great urgency she started a campaign of prayer for Franco-German reconciliation and healing saying, “ Jesus died for all. No one should be excluded from our prayers”. She shared her idea with a local Bishop, Pierre Marie Theas, who had been imprisoned by the Gestapo for acts of resistance. In concentration camp he urged his fellow prisoners to pray, in the spirit of the Gospel and Christian reconciliation, for their enemies, the people of Germany. Bishop Pierre Marie Theas Inspired by the Gospel

Speaking up around the world

South Sudan DRC Yemen Nigeria Colombia Syria Iraq We are all losers after every war. Any war we fight will only take us back socially and economically to those dark days of survival of the fittest. Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos SolidaritySSudan

Imagine Pope Francis teaches Mr Trump

Imagine… Budget rethink Violence prevention Eradication of social injustice Investment in unarmed civilian ptotection International conversations on ‘common security and nonviolent peacemaking’ Trauma healing project…

Imagine… Formation - seminaries, universities, teacher education Conflict transformation Peace and the sacraments Gospel nonviolence and life of Jesus The lives of contemporary peacemakers

Imagine… and more…

A question… How do we not allow a situation in the world where the assumption continues that when there is a situation of violence or potential violence the only answer is drop some more bombs?

An invitation In order to see solutions to the unique and terrible ‘world war in instalments… humanity needs to refurbish all the available tools to help men and women to fulfil their aspirations for justice and peace. Pope Francis went on to challenge our gathering to “revitalise the tools of nonviolence, and active nonviolence in particular.”

Sr Nazik Matty - Iraq

Francisco de Roux sj, Colombia It is my conviction that dialogue transforms... We go to the guerrillas and the para-military immediately after a massacre or attack. We try to respect them.

Arch John Odama, Gulu, Uganda Human beings want to be loved, trusted, listened to…. We became like a bridge between the Government and the rebels

Global Success Rates of Nonviolent and Violent Campaigns, 1900-2015 p<.001 (omitting ongoing cases) Source: MEC Dataset

The way of… Challenging and absorbing violence … chosen as a way of creating a greater good and transforming…

Another way Active Nonviolence in face of injustice The way of Jesus - Do not repay evil with evil - Expose the injustice of a system and change it… - Challenge the status quo… - Assert own humanity/dignity - Break cycles of humiliation - Willing to suffer rather than retaliate with violence   Active Nonviolence in face of injustice The way of Jesus  

Models of Nonviolence Power of witness and story… How can we celebrate these?

A call to the church & society …be a living witness

World Peace Day 2017

From 16 Street Baptist Church The two hands of nonviolence

The way of active nonviolence

creating hope and peace for the human family Working together as a human family, to give meaning to Pax Christi - the Peace of Christ. Creating hope and building peace for all. Join us and join a global community for peace

Some reflection “The time has come for our Church to be a living witness and to invest far greater human and financial resources in promoting a spirituality and practice of active nonviolence… in forming and training our Catholic communities in this work? What steps can we begin to take to help create such communities within our parishes, institutions, groups or schools? (groups might want to focus on one area/break down to discuss all options)

Pax Christi St Joseph’s Watford Way, London NW4 4TY www. paxchristi Pax Christi St Joseph’s Watford Way, London NW4 4TY www.paxchristi.org.uk