Pope Francis touches his forehead during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Francis urged world leaders April 12 to use reason and not arms to resolve differences, evoking memories of the 1960s Cold War between Washington and Moscow.
At his weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square, Francis noted that April 11 marked the 60th anniversary of the issuance of a Cold War-era encyclical by Pope John XXIII.
The "Pacem in Terris" encyclical, intended for both the Catholic Church and the world at large, was issued several months after the Cuban missile crisis, which had fueled fears of nuclear war between the United States and what was then the Soviet Union.
Francis recalled the world then as "full of tensions between two opposing blocs in the so-called Cold War" and said his predecessor’s message, which encouraged peace efforts, "is very current today."
The encyclical "opened horizons in which you could speak of peace, construct peace,'' Francis told thousands of faithful gathered in the square. He called the document issued April 11, 1963 "a real blessing, like a serene break in the midst of dark clouds."
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He cited a passage from the encyclical that reads: "Relations between political communities, like those between individual human beings, should be regulated not by resorting to the force of arms, but by the light of reason, that is, in truth, justice and operative solidarity."
Francis then urged "the faithful and men and women of good will to read" the 60-year-old document.
"I pray that the heads of nations let themselves be inspired (by the encyclical) in their plans and decisions,'' Francis said.
He did not name any national leaders, nor did he cite any current geopolitical tensions, such as between Washington and Moscow over Ukraine or Washington and Beijing over Taiwan.
But as has done repeatedly in public remarks since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Francis referred to the war, saying, "Let's pray for all those who are suffering in Ukraine."
