Response to the message from His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
I very much welcome His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI’s first message for the World Day of Peace. His message is one of hope for a more serene world, especially for those suffering as a result of violence and armed conflict. His Holiness also expresses his gratitude to his predecessors Popes John Paul II and Paul VI, both of whom were of course tireless workers for peace. During our meeting in July of this year I very much welcomed the opportunity to discuss Pope Benedict XVI’s deeply personal commitment to carrying on this noble work.
The theme of this year’s message - “In truth, peace”- reminds us that we cannot hope to realise the benefits of peace where the integral development of the person and the protection of his or her fundamental rights are hindered or denied, or where people are forced to endure intolerable injustices and inequalities.
The connection between the promotion of fundamental rights and the promotion of peace is one that Ireland would equally stress. We have worked consistently to achieve this connection, particularly through our membership of the United Nations over the last fifty years. Through our contribution to and support for the United Nations, we have shown our deep commitment to the promotion of the rule of law, the equality of nations, the peaceful settlement of disputes and the promotion and protection of human rights. We seek to combat poverty, hunger and disease around the world. We must continue to work together and redouble our efforts in taking this vital work forward and we share the call by His Holiness for institutional renewal of the UN to enable it to respond to the changed needs of the present time.
I welcome the Pope’s expression of gratitude to the many soldiers engaged in the delicate work of resolving conflicts and restoring the conditions necessary for peace, and recall the outstanding contribution of our own Defence Forces and Gárdaí to the resolution of conflict in many parts of the world.
A theme which has particular resonance for us is the condemnation of the continued proliferation of nuclear weapons. Disarmament and arms control policy have long played a central role in Ireland’s foreign policy and are a key element in our contribution towards international security and the maintenance of peace. We remain determined to work towards the world that was envisaged by the Treaty on Non-proliferation- a world where nuclear weapons have no role and no future. As the message states, the resources which would be saved could be employed in projects of development capable of benefiting all, particularly the poor.
I recall in particular those who are working against the scourge of HIV/AIDS and those who are seeking a sustainable livelihood for the poorest. Ireland is firmly committed to these objectives, as it is to all the Millennium Development Goals, and has provided increased financial support both for combating preventable diseases and for the relief of the debt of the poorest countries.
I also share the deep concern expressed by His Holiness about terrorism, which continues to take innocent lives and to threaten peace and security. As we know from our own experience on the island of Ireland, no cause can ever justify terrorism and there are no circumstances in which it can be tolerated. In working against terrorism, we must also endeavour to address the conditions in which it flourishes.
On our own island, we are now hopeful, however, that the use of violence for political ends has been consigned forever to history. In July, the IRA announced a formal end to its armed campaign and in September it was confirmed that IRA weapons had been decommissioned. As His Holiness notes, peace cannot be reduced to the simple absence of armed conflict. This truth is reflected in our own experience. We have always been conscious of the vital importance of developing trust and understanding between communities damaged by conflict and this remains at the heart of our work today.
On behalf of the Government of Ireland, I wholeheartedly welcome the message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for World Peace Day 2006 and join with the people of Ireland in marking this important day
ENDS