Advancing Nonviolence and Peace in the church and the world

The culmination of a three-year global conversation among church leaders, community organizers, activists, social scientists, and theologians about how the Catholic Church might return to its Gospel nonviolence roots and transform the world.

Available in English
Available in Spanish
Available in German

Read and reflect on “Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace” with your community with this free study guide in English, French, and Spanish.

The book shares the experiences of on-the-ground nonviolent interventions, explores the scriptural, theological and historical foundations of nonviolence, reviews the most current social science on how nonviolence has been effectively employed, and outlines a vision for how the Church might embrace active nonviolence into every aspect of its life.

🔷 For a paperback (in English), please visit

The Great British Book Shop, to order from the UK (available to ship anywhere)

Winchester Book Gallery, to order from the US (available to ship anywhere)

Use coupon code PCM15 to save 15 percent, only at Winchester Book Gallery

🔷 Visit PayHip for an EPUB in English y en español

Use the coupon code “PCI40” to save 40 percent.

EPUBs bought on PayHip can be read using Apple Books (formerly iBooks) or similar readers. Not compatible with Kindle.

🔷 Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace e-books (in English) are also available for sale on Nook (Barnes & Noble); Kobo; and Kindle

Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace is a biblical, theological, ethical, pastoral and strategic resource for anyone seeking to understand or expand Catholic thinking on nonviolence. It answers commonly asked questions about active nonviolence and Catholic social teaching, including:

  • Does nonviolence work to resolve conflict?
  • What did Jesus and the Bible say about nonviolence?
  • What has the Church taught about nonviolence?
  • Is nonviolence the same as pacifism? How are they different?

Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace explores the foundations of Catholic thinking about nonviolence. It includes reviews of papal statements and church documents, a survey of the biblical teaching from the Hebrew Bible and Christian scriptures, a review of contemporary theological research on nonviolence, and dozens of recommendations for further discernment on how the Church might live into its Gospel nonviolence mandate.

This is an essential resource for moving forward the dialogue on how the Church can lead, teach and respond to conflict in the world. Consider ordering an extra to share with your bishop or other church leaders.

Supplemental documents

The failure of war and its weapons, Paul Rogers, Bradford University

“Following her lead”: Women, faith and nonviolent action to transform violence, Susan Hayward, U.S. Institute of Peace

Nonviolence and creation care/climate justice, Amy Woolam Echeverria, Global Catholic Climate Movement

The Catholic practice of nonviolence, Ken Butigan and Rev. John Dear

Nonviolence in the Hindu, Jain and Buddhist traditions, Rev. Vincent Sekhar, SJ

Nonviolence in the Islamic tradition, Rev. Jan Peters, SJ

CNI roundtable papers

Toward a foundational theology of nonviolence

Jesus’ nonviolence according to the Gospels

Nonviolence and just peace: A new moral framework

“Nonviolence is a crop that can feed the whole world”

Affirmations for Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace

We have seen so many sad examples recently of how hurt our planet and humanity are through the interconnected, complex and multiple crises caused by our systemic violence. In reading Advancing Nonviolence, I was moved by the gift we have been given through the gospel, tradition, and teachings of peace and nonviolence. As Catholics, we must not be afraid to take a more courageous stand for justice and dignity, name and transform the violence which permeates our way of life built on exploitation, racism, sexism, and ecological destruction.
There is so much more to learn about our own power to be vessels of peace and the special role women have played and continue to play in this transformative process.
I am grateful for this initiative and excited and inspired to be a part of it.

The Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, on behalf of Pax Christi International, has now put together a significant, integral argument for advancing nonviolence globally. While discussions on just war have had such texts for centuries, it is hard to say that the movement for Catholics supporting nonviolence have had such a foundational text of compelling resources until now. Here is their 95 theses, here is their Magna Carta. This work comes from a stunningly global team of 119 collaborating contributors, including major theologians and other religious and lay leaders. But it is not only a milestone; it is a text that pivots the discussion of nonviolence as indisputably Catholic and, as they rightly claim, normative. The agenda is advanced notably theologically, pastorally and strategically by this important work.

Events of 2020 have proven the need to move away from a Just War approach to implementing Just Peace. Along with providing philosophical and theological foundations for this shift, Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace in the Church and the World, provides practical examples of this transition like unarmed civilian protection. Active, compassionate and cooperative nonviolence is essential for our future survival. This book helps chart that path.

This foundational book calls the Catholic community to bring nonviolence into the very center of the Church’s thinking on conflict resolution and the issues of war and peace. Its complementary blend of theological insight, moral breadth and hardcore realism about the actual practice of nonviolence point toward a genuine culture of peace for our tormented world.

Words like “extraordinary,” “ground-breaking,” “a major contribution,” do not come close to the meaning of this book. It is simply a watershed moment in the 2,000 year history of the Church. An unprecedented collaboration that involved 120 leading theologians and scholars on Gospel nonviolence from around the globe following upon Pope Francis’ historic call to pursue Jesus’ way of nonviolence, this magisterial volume is a first in church history and marks a new paradigm shift. With this book, and its unique, global, truly “catholic” perspective, we have more than a compendium of every aspect of Gospel nonviolence: we have a blueprint for a new church of peace and nonviolence and a universal vision for a new culture of peace and nonviolence. A book to be studied and taught in churches, universities, seminaries and theology schools for decades to come, and shared with bishops and priests everywhere. May it hasten a new Pentecost of peace and nonviolence!

Rev. John Dear is Author of The God of Peace: Toward a Theology of Nonviolence; The Beatitudes of Peace; and The Nonviolent Life

We have at our collective disposal a powerful antidote to the violence and violation pervasive in our world. It is the practice of nonviolence toward peace that is rooted in justice. Pax Christi International has provided the blueprint for a sustainable culture of peace by curating the wisdom of global thought leaders in this powerfully compelling and urgently needed explication.

I am deeply grateful and hopeful for the Catholic nonviolence initiative now emerging, especially from the global South, with the warm and strong support of the Vatican under Pope Francis. This international popular process is rising from grassroots nonviolence practitioners who are demanding fresh teaching on issues of war and peace and Gospel nonviolence.

Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace builds on the wisdom of popular nonviolent freedom movements  around the world, further develops the principles of “just peace” rooted in Protestant and Anabaptist traditions, and focuses always on the Prince of Peace, our foundation and our hope. Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace lays the perfect groundwork for Pope Francis’ next encyclical.

Jim Wallis is author of Christ in Crisis: Why We Need to Reclaim Jesus