Nicolás Paz, Pax Christi International´s Catholic Nonviolence Initiative Programme Officer, participated in the XXXth General Days of Labour Pastoral, 30 years after the publication of the document “The Pastoral Work of the whole Church”. The meetings took place in Avila, at the Teresian-Sanjuanista International Centre.
There he brought greetings from Pax Christi International and the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, offering the experiences, testimonies, heart and effective tools of Gospel Nonviolence as a contribution to the organisation of Hope for all the People of God, in the professional world, with the pastoral care of workers and popular movements. Nicolás Paz’s presence brought innovative ideas to contribute to the pastoral task in the world of work with a global vision of nonviolence and peace.
“Love for one’s enemies constitutes the core of the Christian revolution. […] Catholic nonviolence should not be understood as surrendering to evil, but rather responding to evil with good, thus breaking the chain of injustice that we have talked so much about these days.”
He explained the work developed by Pax Christi International and the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, recognising in particular the invaluable witness of Gospel nonviolence offered by individuals, groups and organisations that have served and continue to serve in the evangelisation of the professional sphere.
He thanked Dr. Emilce Cuda, member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, for joining the Advisory Council of the Catholic Institute for Nonviolence inaugurated on 29 September in Rome and Alessandra Smirelli, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development for welcoming Pax Christi and the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative into the Dicastery. We look forward to working together for a long time to come.
During the sessions, Sister Alessandra gave a speech on the theme ‘The Pastoral Care of Workers in the General Pastoral Care of the Church’:
“Work is the expression of our dignity….. It is cooperation, relationship, it is our contribution to make the world more beautiful!”
