Space for Reflections on Peace
based on the words of St. Francis
EoF evolved so fast in the last 5 years, that we wanted to know, in the words of our community and having St. Francis’ teachings in mind, a little more of their perspectives on EoF itself. Therefore, we asked some of the community members to share with us what Peace is for them, what it represents and what’s the future that we want to build together.
Diletta Pasqualotto – Italy
Bernat Sellarés – Spain
Ivanna Boiko – Ukraine
Juan Manuel Gil – Colombia
Vincent Chee – Singapore
Mariana Pallarés – Venezuela, Spain
Natalia Teguhputri – Indonesia
Luca Iocovone – Italy
Perla Tannous – Lebanon
Antoine Farah – Lebanon
Marjory Louis-Mard – Haití
Here we share some of the reflections that members of our Community presented:
Peace is dialogue between different points of view. It is not the absence of conflict, but a space of inner calm where we hold a “secret inside of you that gives you harmony and stability.” Peace involves a deep connection with others and the Earth, a choice to love and care for them, fostering a world where “all of creation is living in harmony.”
At its heart, peace is a balance between justice and charity, rooted in respecting the full dimension of the human person. It requires the courage to face conflict and injustice, but always with the goal to transform together. Peace is “recognizing our brothers and sisters, striving for unity and an integral human development.”
In daily life, peace is found in the ordinary. It invites us to “discover the happiness of small things” and to build lives where people can “develop themselves without dangers.” Peace is also personal: “fighting the wars within ourselves,” as inner struggles can be just as damaging as external ones. Without peace, “it is impossible for life and economy to flourish.”
Ultimately, peace is “the encounter where together we work and together we live.” It reflects the peace shown by God, “giving himself for others,” and guiding us toward eternal life.
