We are honored to feature an important article written by Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon and a member of the Advisory Council of the Catholic Institute for Nonviolence.

In a recent piece for Vatican News titled Pope Francis: Shepherd of Nonviolence, Cardinal Bo offers an insightful reflection on Pope Francis’ deep commitment to Gospel nonviolence throughout his pontificate.

From placing mercy, solidarity, and care for our common home at the center of the Church’s mission, to proclaiming nonviolence as the heart of Christian discipleship, Pope Francis consistently called on the Church and the world to reject violence and embrace the transformative power of peace.

Cardinal Bo highlights how Pope Francis, shaped by his own experiences of conflict and struggle, urged humanity toward a nonviolent revolution of healing and justice. His teachings, including the groundbreaking 2017 World Day of Peace Message Nonviolence: A Style of Politics for Peace, have left a profound legacy, offering the Church a path of hope and action rooted in compassion, justice, and human dignity.

As Cardinal Bo reminds us, Pope Francis’ vision calls each of us to embrace nonviolence not only as a personal ethic but as a foundation for social and global transformation: “It is no longer a question of choosing between violence and nonviolence, but between nonviolence and non-existence.”

We invite you to read Cardinal Bo’s full article here and join us in reflecting on the courageous and faithful witness of Pope Francis, a true shepherd of nonviolence.