The world in your hands
Centenary of the end of the First World War
November 11, 2018 marks the centenary of the end of the First World War, which took place between 1914 and 1918. It began when a young terrorist executed the future Austro-Hungarian emperors Franz Ferdinand and Sofia Chotek. The Austro-Hungarian Empire attacked Serbia for the attack and the policy of alliances between the powers ended up triggering a continental war that quickly spread throughout the world.
As a result of the conflict, nearly 20 million people died, including combatants and civilians. This great tragedy devastated the European continent with special cruelty.
The celebration of this type of anniversaries should serve to teach nations and peoples in general not to fall into armed conflicts and to greatly value peace and freedom. The solution to international problems is never war.
Peace is not only a matter of governments, but also depends on each one of us.
If the note said: “A single note does not make music…” there would be no symphony.
If the drop said: “A single drop cannot form the sea…” there would be no ocean.
If the stone said: “A single stone cannot form a wall…” there would be no house
If the word said: A single word cannot make a page…” there would be no books.
If the human being said: “A single gesture of love cannot save humanity…” there would be no justice, no peace, no dignity, no happiness in the world.
As the symphony needs each note, as the book needs each word, as the house needs each stone, as the ocean needs each drop of water… humanity needs you, because wherever you are you are unique and irreplaceable and you are part of the plan of God.
WORDS OF POPE FRANCIS
It is interesting to remember the words that Pope Francis pronounced on the occasion of the centenary of the start of the First World War. At the end of the Angelus prayer on July 27, 2014, he wanted to evoke the centenary, which was celebrated the following day, of the outbreak of the First World War. “Millions of victims and immense destruction – he recalled – in a conflict that Pope Benedict XV defined as a ‘useless massacre’, and which ended, after four long years, in a peace that turned out to be very fragile”. “Tomorrow is a day of mourning,” the Pope added.
“Stop please, I beg you from the bottom of my heart, it’s time to stop, stop please!” Pope Francis was moved to launch a new call for peace to Ukraine, the Middle East and Iraq from his Vatican balcony. “All is lost in war, nothing is lost in peace!”
“Brothers and sisters, never war, never war, I think above all of children, whose hope of a dignified life, of a future, is taken away, dead children, wounded children, mutilated children, orphaned children, children who have war residues as toys, children who do not know how to smile”.
“While we remember this tragic event, I hope that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated, but that the lessons of history will be kept in mind, always making the reasons for peace prevail through patient and courageous dialogue.”
Author of the text: Javier López
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