Pope Francis, “Actively strive for peace.”

Pope Francis visited South Korea last week. He is evaluated as the most charming Pope of all time because he is always humble. Generally, new popes name after the Saints designated by the Catholic Church according to its custom. However, nobody had chosen the name, ‘Francis’ so far. Why did he choose ‘Francis’?


Who is Saint Francis of Assisi?

Francis was born rich in Assisi, Italy about 800 years ago. He used to lead a life of debauchery when he was young. One day, he found enlightenment and he let all things he had go. Then, he turned his back on the world falling into poverty by himself and has looked after people who are sick and weak. After he died, he was venerated as a saint by Anglican Church as well as Catholic Church. Francis’ spirit has inspired the Pope Francis so that the Pope lives an upright life according to his principle and is devoted himself to working for the poor and alienated people.



The Pope Francis realized that every human being has human dignity in everywhere each person is, such as in a family, a church or a society. So, he has tried to make a world filled with hope through unity and harmony. Such his move seems to be influenced by his experience that he had worked in a chemical factory in his childhood. After he grew up, he has helped the people who suffer from military dictatorship, poverty, drug and violence in his motherland, Argentina. Because he practices what he preaches, his actions arouse respect from many people.

Before his visit to South Korea, the Pope Francis revealed top 10 secrets to happiness and it is gaining much popularity with many people. What we sympathize the most is the 10th tip.

“10. Actively strive for peace.” Peace cannot be achieved when we just stay silent doing nothing, but it can be achieved when we lead the world to peace. We in a state of truce need to make our voices for peace. When he was leading a church, cruel wars had happened by a military dictatorial government. He has been trying in a nonviolent way to reduce the sacrifice saying, “The cost of violence is always paid by the weakest people.”

Like what he said, wars are still happening all around the world. The damage of children who are still being attacked from Gaza accounts for 1/3 of all. Wars make many guiltless people as well as children sacrificed. This is the problem that we must solve on an international scale. So, we need to work solving the problem.


Some Korean Catholic priests who went abroad to study in Vatican puts meanings that the Pope’s visit is for seeking Vatican’s role to alleviate the tension and to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula. No matter what his purpose to visit Korea is, I really want everyone to become one and make a voice for peace. So, I hope all of us try and work for it.
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If we don’t work for peace, peace can never be achieved. Just as the Pope Francis acts up to his word, let us be the ones who work for peace. Therefore, I hope we can put an end to wars and live in a peaceful world happily as soon as possible.

The Safest Shelter when a War Breaks Out? Making the World without War

The Safest Shelter when a War Breaks Out? Making the World without War

What would you do if a war breaks out in your country?

Do you live in a place which has tent conflicts? Or, are you in a place where people worry about riots all the time because of some unstable political situations? Have your communities been suffering for religious problems for long time? If not, do you live in a divided country like me?

 

There have been lot's of conflicts and wars around the world and it seems that people are concerning where they should escape when a war occurs. I searched Internet about wars and I found that the key word, 'The safest place when a war breaks out?' is the most popular.

I clicked it with curiosity.

 

By the way, where do You think the safest place is?

 

Going out abroad, finding a shelter, staying at home is the best answer, and so on. There were different opinions. But I think no one knows about it because a war can happen anywhere and the effects of weapons such as nuclear, chemical and biological weapons are huge so they may clear the whole people in the world.

Then what could be the best way to avoid wars?

 

What about figuring out the ways not to cause a war instead of finding shelters?

 

Those natural disasters such as tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions are beyond the human power. People have no choice but just try to protect their homes from them. However, causing wars is different from those of natural disasters. Because it was started from human, it can be ended by will of human. A war makes people die and have serious problems in many ways. Should we keep doing these kind of crucial behavior? In this reason, I think we, all people need to seek the ways to make the peaceful world. Handing down the world without wars to our descendants would be our obligation.

 

You might think that, 'easy to say, difficult to achieve in reality. Some people believe it's impossible to have complete peace with ceasing wars. They are not sure about it. However, there is a person claim that the peace must come and he has the answers to make it. He is Mr. Man hee Lee, a peace advocate.

 

I found a wonderful reports from world news. Do you know Mindanao in the Philippines? The conflicts between Islamist and Catholicism used to be there, People in there were always scared of guns and fights. Many of peace activities visited there to solve the problem but it was hard to achieve it. Mr. Man Hee Lee , however, visited there without any weapons but only messages of peace. He gave his speech to them, and made two representatives who are leaders of islam and catholic churches sign for the Peace Agreement.

 

Also, last month, he traveled to meet the presidents, former presidents, political leaders and hold peace conferences and seminars to ask them to join his campaign and make peace in the world together. Futhermore, he had visited Guatemala and laid a rose on the Palm of Peace with awarding appreciation plaque.

 

The peace advocate Man Hee Lee says about himself that he does not have a high level of education, and he is not just traveling around the world for fun or due to having lots of money. The reason why hi is doing is just for peace and he is sure we can have peaceful world by doing so. And he also claims that all the people in the world should be peace leaders who wish for peace.

 

There is a saying 'every little helps'. You can achieve big things when the tiny things are gathered. I hope that you have the mind of peace and stay in the belief that peace will come true.

 

If each person has the same mind of peace transcending race, county and religion, each an every place and country can be a peaceful place.