In his Christmas Day message, Pope Benedict XVI has called for peace and justice in the troubled areas of the world.  Pope Benedict highlighted Syria, “a conflict which does not spare even the defenseless and reaps innocent victims.” This comes in the wake of the bombing of a bakery and bread line by Bashar al-Assad’s brutal regime and the continued failure of the international community to end Assad’s murderous campaign to preserve his rule.

The Pope called on the Israelis and Palestinians to return to negotiations to finally end decades of conflict.  He encouraged the citizens of Egypt and the other Arab Spring countries to “work together to build societies founded on justice and respect for the freedom and dignity of every person.”  And Benedict called for a return to peace in Mali, Nigeria, DRC, and Kenya.

The Holy Father’s message of peace reflects the reality that there is no authentic peace without justice.  There is no peace where there is tyranny or terror.  The protection of human rights is the foundation for real, durable peace that corresponds with the dignity of the person.  On Christmas, let us pray for the spread of authentic freedom, particularly freedom from want and fear, so that the people of the world may experience genuine peace.  And let this time of joy, rest, and love help us to renew our efforts to promote the common good and human flourishing and to illuminate the reality that Christ the Redeemer has come and that death and destruction are no match for the Kingdom of God.