Catholic peace movements across the Asia-Pacific region are invoking Pope Leo XIV’s World Day of Peace message to confront militarization, fear-driven security policies, and unresolved injustices rooted in the region’s history of conflict.
The call emerged during an international online forum held in January, which gathered Catholic peace advocates, theologians, scholars, and youth leaders to reflect on the pope’s message issued early this month and its implications for societies facing escalating conflict and social fragmentation.
The webinar was organized by Pax Christi Asia Pacific, the International Movement of Catholic Students Pax Romana, the International Catholic Movement of Intellectual and Cultural Affairs Pax Romana, and the International Youth Training Center.
Speakers said Pope Leo XIV’s appeal for a “disarmed and disarming peace” directly challenges dominant global narratives that equate security with military power and deterrence.
“The realization that true and lasting peace cannot be built on an equal supply of armaments is especially significant today,” said Bishop José Colin Bagaforo of the Philippines, newly elected co-president of Pax Christi International.
He said the message urges the Church to resist fear-based politics and to ground peace efforts in justice, dialogue, and human dignity.
Human rights defender Ruki Fernando of Sri Lanka pointed to the persistence of militarization even after armed conflict formally ends.
“Although Sri Lanka’s war ended in 2009, the country remains heavily militarized,” Fernando said, citing the military’s continued involvement in civilian life and the lack of accountability for serious human rights violations.
Without confronting these realities, he warned, Pope Leo XIV’s call for an unarmed peace would remain “a distant aspiration.”
Fernando also cautioned against relying on dialogue alone in deeply unequal contexts.
“Dialogue alone is not always sufficient when there are vast inequalities in political, military, and economic power,” he said, noting that nonviolent direct action has often been necessary to restore dignity and justice where dialogue has failed.
Several speakers stressed that peace, as articulated in the pope’s message, cannot be separated from justice, restorative processes, and the healing of historical wounds.
In the Philippines, panelists reflected on how armed conflict, political dynasties, and corruption continue to weaken democratic institutions and social trust.
One speaker said an “unarmed and disarming peace” requires confronting state-sponsored violence and supporting transitional justice, including accountability for past abuses and solidarity with victims of the war on drugs.
Regional solidarity also featured prominently in the discussion, particularly in relation to Myanmar and tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
Speakers urged Catholic peace movements to remain vigilant amid growing militarization and to continue advocating for human rights, reparations, and meaningful peace processes across borders.
On the Korean Peninsula, Joseph Shin from Jeju described how global power rivalries have transformed the island into a strategic military site.
He linked Pope Leo XIV’s warning against fear-driven security narratives to Jeju’s lived experience, marked by the expansion of naval bases and deep public anxiety about becoming a frontline in future conflicts.
“When peace is framed through realism devoid of hope, people are left with fear and powerlessness,” Shin said, recalling Jeju’s history, including the April 3 massacre, and its designation as an “Island of Peace.”
He said the pope’s message challenges societies to reject security discourses that normalize violence and instead invest in trust, historical truth, and restorative justice.
Jun Nakai, S.J., from Japan underscored the importance of international solidarity in reconciliation efforts.
He pointed to regular exchange programs between Japanese and Korean bishops as a concrete response to rising xenophobia and racism in Japan, and introduced a new Pax Christi Hiroshima peace initiative focused on reconciliation grounded in historical memory and justice.
From Aotearoa New Zealand, Sr. Bridget Crisp RSM of Pax Christi Aotearoa challenged perceptions of the country as distant from violence.
“If you scratch the surface, New Zealand is not as removed from violence as it is often perceived,” she said, citing racism, inequality, and the unresolved impacts of colonization.
Drawing on Pope Leo XIV’s call to “open ourselves to peace,” she said peace must be practiced daily through listening, relationship-building, and dignified responses to conflict.
Youth participants framed the pope’s message as a call to intergenerational responsibility.
“Pope Leo XIV’s message gives young people not only hope, but also a mandate to act creatively and nonviolently,” said Bianca Reyes of Pax Christi Pilipinas, who called for greater inclusion of young people in peacebuilding, advocacy, and Church-led initiatives.
Organizers said the World Day of Peace should serve as a starting point for sustained action rather than a symbolic observance.
“At a time when violence is increasingly normalized and militarization is portrayed as inevitable, Pope Leo XIV dares to propose another path,” said Anselmo Lee, co-convener of the Catholic Peace Forum and co-president of Pax Christi Korea.
“The task before us is to make that path both visible and viable through sustained education, advocacy, and solidarity across regions and generations,” Lee added.
They said follow-up dialogues and coordinated peace initiatives will continue throughout 2026, leading toward activities linked to the Seoul World Youth Day in 2027, aimed at keeping the message of the World Day of Peace alive across Asia-Pacific communities and beyond.
