Pope wants global peace as next synod topic: Report

An Italian news agency is reporting that Pope Francis wants to dedicate the next synod of bishops to the issue of global peace.

ANSA stated the Pope mentioned this at a recent meeting of the organising council of the synod of bishops.

“But how to develop a strong initiative in favour of global peace is what might most interest in this moment the Pope, who has for a long time had in mind to find ways to address himself to other religions for a significant commitment capable of saying ‘no for always’ to war,” the report stated.

ANSA added that other proposals for topics included ecumenism and the possibility of more married priests.

The permanent organising council of the Vatican’s synod office met in Rome on April 18-19.

A Vatican conference last month held by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Pax Christi International issued an appeal for a reconsideration of just war theory in Catholic teaching.

Some 80 participants from around the world stated that the Church’s just war teachings have too often been used to justify violent conflicts.

The group also called for Francis to consider writing an encyclical on the topic.

While synods do not typically result in papal encyclical letters, they are often followed by publication of a papal apostolic exhortation, such as Francis’ recent exhortation Amoris Laetitia.

The head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Peter Turkson, said in an interview the proposals from the conference were “legitimate”.

“In the worldwide Catholic network, it is an important voice among many.”

“Pope Francis is working for collegiality, following the teaching of Vatican Council II,” said the cardinal.

“It will be of utmost importance to initiate a broad, open, qualified, deeply felt and widespread debate. A possible encyclical is plausible only as the fruit of much dialogue, not as a starting point.”

In recent years, the Vatican has called for international force to be used to stop acts of genocide by ISIS.

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News category: World.

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