WORLD DAY OF PEACE
The custom to observe the first of January as
World Day of Peace began in 1968. On December 8, 1967 Pope Paul VII sent a
message to all men of
good will, declaring the first of January as World Day of Peace. He expressed the desire that such a day will become a yearly recurrence so that the concern for peace will become alive in the hearts and minds of men especially in the beginnin of a New
year. In this message the Pope stressed very much that the true peace must have its foundation in a new way of thinking, in a new spirit and in a new heart. The response of the message of the Pope was overwhelming. Political leaders from all over the world and peoples of all walks of life gave their support and promised cooperation.Encouraged by this positive reaction Pope Paul VI began to send every year a message of peace to all men of good will. It is moving and enlightening to read through these messages, especially when they are read in the original Italian version. They reveal the Pope as a man with deep insights whose heart is truly burning and on fire of peace. The successors of Pope Paul VI continue this quest for peace and every year a thematic message is given for the first of January. It is worthwhile to publish the list of the themes. They are not only a good description of peace and of the active process of achieving it, but they offer plenty of thoughts for personal reflection, teaching and preaching.