Pax Christi
Pax Christi International is an international Catholic peace movement. The Pax Christi International website claims its mission is "to transform a world shaken by violence, terrorism, deepening inequalities, and global insecurity."[1]
History
Pax Christi (Latin for Peace of Christ) was established in France in 1945 through the inspiration of Marthe Dortel-Claudot and Bishop Pierre-Marie Théas. Both were French citizens interested in reconciliation between French and German citizens in the aftermath of World War II.[2] Some of the first actions of Pax Christi were the organisation of peace pilgrimages and other actions fostering reconciliation between France and Germany. Although Pax Christi initially began as a movement for French-German reconciliation, it expanded its focus and spread to other European countries in the 1950s and grew as “a crusade of prayer for peace among all nations.”[3]
Pax Christi was recognized as the “the official international Catholic peace movement” by Pope Pius XII in 1952.[4]
In 1983, Pax Christi International was awarded the UNESCO Peace Education Prize.[5]
The Pax Christi network membership is made up of 18 national sections and 115 Member Organizations working in over 50 countries.[citation needed]
Peace work
Pax Christi focuses on five main issues: human rights, human security, disarmament and demilitarization, just world order, and religion and peace.[6]
Organization
Pax Christi is made up of national sections of the movement, affiliated organizations and partner organizations. Its International Secretariat is in Brussels. Pax Christi has consultative status as a non-governmental organization at the United Nations.[7]
International Presidents of Pax Christi
- Maurice Feltin (1950–1965)
- Bernard Alfrink (1965–1978)
- Luigi Bettazzi (1978–1985)
- Franz König (1985–1990)
- Godfried Danneels (1990–1999)
- Michel Sabbah (1999–2007)
In 2007, a co-presidency was created, a Bishop and a lay woman.[8]
- Laurent Monsengwo (2007–2010)
- Marie Dennis (2007 – present)
- Kevin Dowling (C.SS.R.) (2010 – present)
See also
References
- ^ Pax Christi International
- ^ [1]
- ^ Pogorelc, Anthony J., ‘’Encyclopedia of American Religion and Politics," 2003, Pg. 317
- ^ Dennis, Marie, “Pax Christi International” ‘’CMSM Forum," Summer 2008
- ^ https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=plAOAQAAMAAJ&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Unesco+Prize+for+Peace+Education
- ^ [2]
- ^ "Our History," Pax Christ USA
- ^ http://www.paxchristi.net/about-us/history
Further reading
- Roger S. Powers; et al., eds. (1997). "Pax Christi International". Protest, Power, and Change: An Encyclopedia of Nonviolent Action. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-76482-0.
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