1/4/2003
40th Anniversary of Pacem in Terris
On April 11 1963, Pope John XXIII released the encyclical Pacem in Terris, Peace on
Earth. The 40th anniversary of Pacem in Terris provides us with the opportunity to
remember, celebrate and reflect on this document which still contributes to the Church’s
understanding of peace.
Pope John Paul II
John Paul II has often reminded us of the wisdom in Pacem in Terris. On the first day
of 2003, during the homily in the Mass for the World Day of Peace he noted the 40th
anniversary of Pope John XXIII’s encyclical. He recalled the four key concepts articulated
by John XXIII:
With the profound intuition that characterized him, John XXIII identified the essential
conditions for peace in four precise requirements of the human spirit: truth, justice,
love and freedom. Truth will build peace if all individuals sincerely acknowledge
not only their rights, but also their own duties towards others. Justice will build
peace if in practice all of us respect the rights of others and actually fulfil our
duties towards them. Love will build peace if people feel the needs of others as
their own and share what they have with others, especially the values of mind
and spirit which they possess. Freedom will build peace and make it thrive if, in
the choice of the means to that end, people act according to reason and assume
responsibility for their own actions.
Using John XXIII’s words, John Paul II reminded his audience that to construct peace is
a “permanent commitment”.
Pacem in Terris
For the first time, a papal encyclical was addressed to all people “of good will”. It opens with
John XXIII emphasising that peace on earth can only be established if the right order of relationships exists between individuals, between and within nations and among all peoples. These relationships must
acknowledge that “every human being is a person” and as a person “has rights and obligations flowing
directly and simultaneously from” human nature. With these human rights come “just as many respective
duties”, for “every fundamental human right draws its indestructible moral force from the natural law, which in granting it imposes a corresponding obligation”.
Assisting the right order of human society is “legitimate authority”, whose “whole reason for existence … is the realisation of the common good”, which can be “guaranteed when personal rights and duties are
maintained”.
Relationships between nations “must be harmonised in truth, in justice, in a working solidarity, in liberty”. It is “with deep sorrow” that John XXIII notes the tendency of nations to attempt to preserve peace through the production and stockpiling of arms. The arms race must cease for “the true and solid peace of nations consists not in equality of arms but in mutual trust alone”. Pius XII’s warning is repeated, “Nothing is lost by peace; everything may be lost by war.” It is “contrary to reason to hold that war is now a suitable way to restore rights which have been violated”.
For the promotion of the universal common good the constitution of a public authority at the international level is necessary, so that differences among peoples and nations may be resolved through negotiations and agreements. Such a worldwide public authority ought not “be imposed by force by the more powerful nations”, and “must have as its fundamental objective the recognition, respect, safeguarding and promotion of the rights of the human person”.
Acknowledgement is given to the United Nations Organisation and to its approval of the Universal Declarationof Human Rights.
Finally, John XXIII invites every individual to work for peace, for “there can be no peace between people
unless there is peace within each one of them”.
