The Holy Spirit is the source of all peace, beginning in the Christian soul and extending to international relations 

At the General Audience of 29 May the Holy Father continued his weekly catechesis on Christian faith. The theme of this talk was the Holy Spirit as source of peace. Here is the text of the Pope's address which was given in Italian.

1. Peace is the great desire of contemporary humanity. It comes in two principal forms: the elimination of war as a way to solve disputes between nations— or States—and the resolution of social conflicts by achieving justice. Can anyone deny that the spread of these sentiments represents a progress in social psychology, in political mentality and in the very organization of national and international co-existence? Especially in regard to the dramatic experiences of late, the Church, whose task it is to preach and pray for peace, cannot fail to rejoice when she observes the new achievements in law, social and political institutions, and — more fundamentally — in the human awareness itself of peace.

Profound conflicts, however, remain even in the world today and are the origin of many ethnic and cultural disputes, in addition to economic and political ones. To be realistic and sincere, one cannot fail to recognize the difficulty, even the impossibility, of preserving peace without a higher principle, which operates with divine power deep within the human mind.

2. According to revealed doctrine this principle is the Holy Spirit, who gives spiritual peace to individuals, an inner peace which becomes the basis of peace in society.

Jesus himself, speaking to his disciples in the Upper Room, announces his peace ("My peace I give to you": Jn 14:27): this peace is shared with the disciples by the gift of the Holy Spirit who gives this peace to human hearts. In John's text, the promise of peace follows the promise of the Paraclete's coming (cf. Jn 14:26). Christ's work of peacemaking is achieved through the Holy Spirit who was sent to fulfil the Saviour's mission.

3. It should be noted that Christ's peace is announced and offered along with forgiveness of sins, as can be seen in the words of the risen Jesus to his disciples: "Peace be with you.... Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive they are forgiven them" (Jn 20:21-23). This peace is the result of the redemptive sacrifice, accomplished on the cross, which reaches its fulfilment in the glorification of Christ.

This is the first type of peace which human beings need: the peace obtained by overcoming the obstacle of sin. It is a peace which can only come from God, by the forgiveness of sins through Christ's sacrifice. The Holy Spirit, who accomplishes this forgiveness in individuals, is for human beings the operative principle of that fundamental peace which consists in reconciliation with God.

4. According to St Paul peace is a "fruit of the Holy Spirit" connected with charity: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace ..." (Gal 5:22). It is opposed to the works of the flesh, among which (according to the Apostle) are "hostilities, bickering, jealousy, outbursts of rage, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envy ..." (Gal 5:20). This is a list of primarily interior obstacles which impede peace of soul and social peace. Precisely because he transforms interior dispositions, the Holy Spirit inspires a basic attitude of peace in the world, too. Paul says of Christ that "he is our peace" (Eph 2:14), and explains that Christ has made peace by reconciling all people with God through his sacrifice, from which one new Man is born upon the ashes of human dissension and hostility. But the Apostle himself adds that this peace is accomplished in the Holy Spirit: "Through Christ we have access in one Spirit to the Father" (Eph 2:18). It is always the one, true peace of Christ, but it is poured into hearts and experienced under the impulse of the Holy Spirit.

5. In the Letter to the Philippians the Apostle speaks of peace as a gift given to those who, even in the difficulties of life, turn to God "in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude ...", and he assures them: "God's own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:6-7).

The lives of the saints are a testimony and a proof of the divine origin of peace. They appear to us with an inner serenity in the midst of the most painful trials and storms which seem to sweep them away. Something—indeed Someone—is present and at work in them to protect them not only from the shifting tides of external events, but from their own weakness and fear. It is the Holy Spirit who is the author of that peace which is the fruit of the love which he pours out into human hearts (cf. St Thomas, II-II, q. 29, aa. 3-4).

6. According to St Paul, "the kingdom of God ... is justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom 14:17). The Apostle formulates this principle when he admonishes Christians not to judge the weakest among them harshly when the latter do not succeed in freeing themselves from certain ascetical practices which are based on a false idea of purity, such as the prohibition against eating meat and drinking wine which was practiced by some pagans (e.g., the Pythagoreans) and some Jews (e.g., the Essenes). Paul invites them to follow the rule of an enlightened and certain conscience (cf. Rom 14:5-6, 23), but especially to be inspired by charity, which should direct the conduct of the strong: "Nothing is unclean in itself.... If your brother is being hurt by what you eat, your conduct is no longer in accord with love. Do not because of your food destroy him for whom Christ died!" (Rom 14:14-15).

Paul's recommendation, then, is not to create trouble in the community, not to stir up conflict and not to scandalize others: "Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another" (Rom 14:19) is his exhortation. Everyone should be concerned with preserving harmony by not using the Christian's freedom in a tendentious way which offends or harms one's neighbour. The principle formulated by the Apostle is: Charity should direct and regulate freedom. In dealing with a particular problem, Paul enunciates a general principle: "The Kingdom of God is peace in the Holy Spirit".

7. The Christian should be committed to complying with the Holy Spirit's activity by fostering in his soul "the tendency of the Spirit toward life and peace" (Rom 8:6). This is the reason for the Apostle's repeated exhortations to the faithful to "preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin and peace as its binding force" (Eph 4:3), to act "with perfect humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another lovingly" (Eph 4:2) and to continue to turn away from "the tendency of the flesh, which is at enmity with God" and conflicts with the tendency of the Spirit which "is toward life and peace" (Rom 8:6-7). Only if they are united in the "binding force of peace" do Christians appear "united in the Spirit" and as true followers of him who came into the world to bring peace.

The Apostle's wish is that they receive from God that great gift which is an essential element of life in the Spirit: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing ... by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Rom 15:13).

8. To conclude this catechesis, I too wish peace in the Holy Spirit to all Christians and to everyone. And I wish to recall again that, according to the teaching of Paul and the witness of saintly souls, the Holy Spirit makes his inspirations recognized by the inner peace which they bring to the heart. The promptings of the Holy Spirit go in the direction of peace, not in the direction of anxiety, discord, dissent and hostility about the good. There can be a legitimate difference of opinions on particular points and on the ways of reaching a common goal, but the impulse of charity, which is a sharing in the Holy Spirit, is toward profound concord and unity in the good willed by the Lord. St Paul is categorical: "God is not the God of disorder but of peace" (1 Cor 14:33).

This is obviously true for peace of mind and heart within Christian communities. But when the Holy Spirit reigns in hearts, he stirs up the desire to use every effort to establish peace in relationships with others on every level: family, civic, social, political, ethnic, national and international (cf. Rom 12:18; Heb 12:14). In particular, he motivates Christians to engage in prudent mediation to reconcile people in conflict and to use dialogue as the means to be employed against temptations and the threat of war.

Let us pray that Christians, the Church and all persons of good will may be ever more committed to obeying faithfully the Spirit of peace.