Pax Christi International’s ongoing commitment to fostering peace and promoting nonviolence has been spotlighted in a recent feature in L’Osservatore Romano. The feature includes two insightful interviews with Martha Inés Romero, Secretary General of Pax Christi International, and Nicolás Paz, Director of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative.

In his interview, Nicolás Paz reflects on the importance of nonviolent conflict management tools in today’s world, especially in contexts where violence is often seen as the only solution. Paz emphasises that true peacebuilding requires cultural, mental, and emotional transformation, a shift in mindset that can start with individuals and spread through communities. He speaks passionately about the need for a collective effort to reduce narratives of violence and promote nonviolent alternatives in all sectors of society, from families to political groups and the media.

Paz also highlights the work of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative and the Catholic Institute for Nonviolence, which involves conducting research, educating, and sharing best practices of nonviolence across various contexts, including real-life examples from regions like South Sudan, Latin America, and Sri Lanka. Through training programs, like the one conducted with religious sisters in Juba, Sudan, Pax Christi has witnessed transformative changes where violence once seemed unavoidable. These efforts, Paz says, have led even former armed youth to embrace nonviolent dialogue and invite others to join peacebuilding efforts.

In her interview, Martha Inés Romero, Secretary General of Pax Christi International, discusses the organisation’s broader mission of promoting a culture of peace based on the dignity of every person and creation itself. Since assuming her role in 2023, Romero has worked tirelessly to advance Pax Christi International’s efforts to confront global violence and injustice. She stresses the importance of nonviolence not only as a spiritual and ethical stance but also as a practical, political tool for conflict transformation.

Romero, who has worked extensively in Latin America, draws from the organisation’s experience in conflict zones such as Chiapas, Mexico, where Pax Christi International has supported local efforts to prevent violence and foster peace through grassroots nonviolent action. She echoes Pope Francis’ call for disarmament and emphasises that true peace can only be achieved through nonviolence, which addresses the root causes of conflict rather than merely reacting to violence with more violence.

The interview with Martha Inés Romero was reprised by Vatican News – click here to read it.

You can find both articles in L’Osservatore Romano.