As the Catholic Church increases its new evangelization efforts and works for justice and peace in the world, it would be wise to imitate the positive, prophetic approach taken by Blessed John XXIII in his encyclical “Pacem in Terris,” a French archbishop said. Archbishop Roland Minnerath of Dijon addressed the opening session April 27 of a meeting of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, which was holding the second of three planned meetings preparing to mark the 50th anniversary next year of “Pacem in Terris,” the encyclical “on establishing peace in truth, justice, charity and liberty.”
Mary Ann Glendon, a professor of law at Harvard University and president of the academy, told members their study and discussions would be focused on “the role of religion in the quest for a ‘tranquility of order’ in our increasingly complex and conflict-ridden world.” Archbishop Minnerath said the encyclical had an unusually positive and popular reception around the world, first of all because it was the first encyclical addressed to “all men of good will.” In addition, he said, it tapped into people’s yearning for peace at the height of the Cold War, the emerging independence of former colonies in Africa and Asia, and widespread economic growth, he said.
VATICAN CITY (CNS)