“ ‘Peace be with you.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [Jesus] said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ ” (Jn 20:19-21)

On 8 May, when Pope Leo XIV stepped out on the loggia after his election as the successor of St. Peter to greet the people in St. Peter’s Square and the entire world, he offered the salutation of the risen Christ to all. 

He added:

“I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world. Peace be with you!

“It is the peace of the risen Christ. A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all, unconditionally.”

Less than a week later, on 14 May, in his address to the participants in the Jubilee of the Eastern Churches, Pope Leo linked the “song of hope,” sung no better than by the “martyr churches” — a term Pope Francis used — of the East, to an appeal for peace — an appeal with its origin in the risen Christ.

Pope Leo describes Christ’s peace:

“Christ’s peace is not the sepulchral silence that reigns after conflict; it is not the fruit of oppression, but rather a gift that is meant for all, a gift that brings new life. Let us pray for this peace, which is reconciliation, forgiveness and the courage to turn the page and start anew.”

In his address, the pope articulated the position of the Holy See as always open to dialogue in search of hope. He spoke of how “our neighbors are not first our enemies, but our fellow human beings; not criminals to be hated, but other men and women with whom we can speak.”

In the few months that Leo XIV has served as the successor of St. Peter, the world has seen how this “son of St. Augustine,” the first Augustinian pope, has dedicated so much of his public reflections to the theme of peace.

St. Augustine (354-430) wrote often on the theme of peace, especially in Book XIX of “The City of God.” Permit me to recommend a return to the writing and thought of St. Augustine if you wish to know the thinking of Pope Leo XIV.

If I may, a few additional reflections: Congratulations to CNEWA’s communications and marketing team, along with the creative services team, for the outstanding quality they continue to produce in CNEWA’s ONE magazine. At the annual June meeting of the Catholic Media Association in Phoenix, CNEWA won 53 media awards and 17 first place awards, including best website!

The current issue of ONE addresses humanitarian and pastoral concerns in regions of the world — including Syria, Ukraine, Georgia, Gaza and Ethiopia — where your prayers, informed by the news we share with you, and your extraordinary generosity bring a glimmer of hope to those we serve. Thank you.

May I also bring to your attention three very important initiatives on the part of CNEWA-Pontifical Mission:

• Our Gaza Emergency Relief Appeal: Again, here, I repeat the words of Pope Leo: “Gaza is starving.” Prayer, awareness and action constitute our priorities. The action must be now! CNEWA-Pontifical Mission is not working in isolation. We have the means to safely obtain essential supplies for people who are suffering and most in need at this hour! I beg for your assistance! Please visit Support Emergency Relief in the Holy Land to donate.
• CNEWA’s Second Annual Golf Classic: Please help us to build our network with your support for our golf event on Thursday, 16 October, at the Plandome Country Club in Long Island, New York. Join us for a day of golf or just for dinner at the club, or support us through a sponsorship opportunity.
• CNEWA’s Annual Gala Dinner: Please join us on 1 December at a private club in Manhattan at the event that will launch CNEWA’s centennial year. The guest of honor will be His Excellency, Archbishop Borys Gudziak, metropolitan archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, and our Faith & Culture Award recipient will be Michèle B. Bowe, ambassador to Palestine for the Sovereign Order of Malta. 

With my gratitude and prayers,

Peter I. Vaccari 

President

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