Pope’s Peace Day Message an invitation to convert hearts and minds

By Linda Bordoni

Message from Pope Francis for World Day of Peace 2025 titled “Forgive us our debts: grant us your peace” was presented to the Vatican on Thursday morning. In his message, the Pope refers to the Jubilee Year 2025 with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”, which highlights the deep meaning of the Jubilee as a special year of universal remission of sins and debts to liberate the oppressed.

Speakers at the press conference included Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Dignity, Krisanne Vaillancourt, executive director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, and Vito Fontana, a former landmine producer who now works with Intersos, a humanitarian organization that provides aid, particularly to people whose lives are threatened by conflict.

Forgiveness, renewal, global responsibility

Cardinal Czerny highlighted the resonances between the message and the Jubilee Year, explaining that the message integrates the biblical meanings of “sin” and “debts”, calling for forgiveness, renewal and global responsibility.

He said it invites us in particular to strengthen our faith in Jesus to counter injustice and evil in the world; engage in conversion of heart and mind, guided by love and responsibility towards others, especially the poor and the earth; work for disarmament by adopting a transformative perspective that promotes unity and solidarity, calling for global actions such as the cancellation of foreign debt, the abolition of the death penalty and the fight against hunger.

These steps, Cardinal Czerny explained, emphasize forgiveness, justice and solidarity as paths to hope and peace in a troubled world.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ

Building a culture of life

Krisanne Vaillancourtexecutive director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network which advocates the abolition of the death penalty, noted that the Pope’s message emphasizes forgiveness as the foundation of peace.

She said it challenges individuals and societies to confront structures of sin and promote healing, particularly through restorative justice.

The overall message, Vaillancourt noted, is a call to action, an invitation to accept forgiveness and dismantle structures of violence, such as the death penalty, to build a culture of life and peace based on mercy. and justice.

Kisanne Vaillancourt

The arms trade

Vito Alfieri Fontanathe former Italian landmine producer who transformed his life and mission into an advocate for peace and accountability, reflected on how the arms trade thrives on the illusion of quick solutions, perpetuating conflicts for profit while ignoring the long term.

He explained how the Pope’s teaching emphasizes that war, lies and inequality tear communities apart while benefiting a small and powerful minority and that those affected by war demand justice, not charity.

Fontana reiterated the concept that those who profit from conflict have a moral responsibility to repair the damage and support recovery.

Inspired by Pope Francis, he expressed his belief that true peace requires recognition of the world’s collective debt to war-torn communities and commitment to pursuing reconciliation, justice and coexistence.

Vito Alfieri Fontana