Workshop on Nonviolence – April 2019

The Holy See’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and Pax Christi International’s Catholic Nonviolence Initiative jointly organized a workshop on the following topic : “Path of Nonviolence: Towards a Culture of Peace” (April 4th-5th, 2019).

The sessions focused on the understanding of current situations of conflict and violence over the world through several case studies, on the roots of violence, and on the possible paths for peace and reconciliation, in the framework of nonviolent initiatives.

IFCU was represented, and could emphasize on the social responsibility of universities in this regard, and on the role of universities in order to contribute to the building of a sustainable peace at the local, regional and global levels.

Participants to the workshop came from Latin America (Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Colombia, Honduras, Brazil), Northern America (Canada, the United States), Asia (Philippines, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Fiji), Africa (Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia), Middle-East (Palestine), and Europe (the United Kingdom, France and Italy). The Dicastery’s Prefect Cardinal Peter Turkson (from Ghana), as well as Cardinal Joseph Tobin (from Newark, New Jersey, United States) were present. Mgr. Bruno-Marie Duffé, Secretary of the Dicastery hosting the workshop, moderated several sessions during the workshop.

The reflections raised by all the participants during these days resulted in the drafting of a document that will be shared with Pope Francis, with the hope for a possible encyclical on the promotion of nonviolent initiatives.