A few days ago, St. Peter’s College, Colombo, had its annual carol service. This carol service was named ‘Pacem in terris’, and unsurprisingly, many of us were initially not too certain about the actual English meaning of this term. The words ‘pacem in terris’ refer to ‘peace on Earth’, and these three words have indeed given all of us a very timely message with special relevance to the current period in world history, where conflicts are taking place simultaneously in many regions of the world.
In January 2023, Pope Francis warned that a kind of Third World War was underway. He said this was taking place in a globalised world, where conflict involves certain areas of the planet directly but, in reality, involves them all. Therefore, besides enjoying and savoring the beautiful carols and heavenly music produced by the boys, teachers, and past pupils of St. Peter’s College, perhaps, it may be appropriate timing for everyone to also remember the great destruction and damage caused by armed conflicts, wars, and the crying desire for more lasting ‘peace on Earth.’ In recent times, the intensity and human costs of armed conflicts have escalated, with fatalities from violent events rising by 37% year-on-year during the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. At the same time, resources available to affected governments and international aid organisations to meet the unfolding humanitarian needs are becoming more limited.
‘Pacem in terris’ and the Church
It is interesting to note the global relevance of the term ‘pacem in terris’ in relation to a papal document issued by Pope John XXIII, just over 61 years ago. The message contained in the document was first delivered at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on 11 April 1963 (which coincided in that year with the special Church day of Holy Thursday). The catalyst for this document was the Cuban Missile Crisis, which occurred between 22 and 29 October 1962, where the world was heavily involved in the Cold War.
The document discusses the rights and obligations of persons and countries and consists of over 15,000 words. It has four main sections, namely the order between human beings, the order of relationships between individuals and particular states, the relationship among States, and the relationship of human beings and political communities with the world community. It describes the political, social, and economic conditions that will ultimately create peace on Earth.
In the document, Pope John XXIII asserted that the human person (and by extension society) has the capacity to choose peace. Importantly, ‘Pacem in terris’ presented the hope of universal peace as something that could genuinely be sought. Furthermore, it laid aside the use of heavy theological language in its composition. According to the document: “Peace on Earth, which man throughout the ages has so longed for and sought after, can never be established, never be guaranteed, except by the diligent observation of the divinely established order.”
In this document, Pope John XXIII also called for a global public authority as the most reliable strategy to end war and secure peace for nations. The important messages contained within the document are of much relevance in present times, where conflicts in different regions of the world are continuing to cause high levels of suffering to many.
‘Pacem in terris’ was the first document in Catholic social teaching to give a central role to human rights. According to the document: “Each person has a right to life and the basic necessities to live a healthy, dignified life (for instance food, shelter, clothing, etc.). Each person also has his or her own individual rights within the economic, political, and spiritual realms (for example, a living wage, legal protection, and professing one’s faith).”
Most importantly, all these rights have corresponding duties, chiefly the duty to recognise the rights of others. ‘Pacem in terris’ argues that recognition, respect, safeguarding, and promotion of the human rights of all human beings are essential for authentic justice and peace. It declares that racial discrimination can in no way be accepted. It is stated: “True and lasting peace among nations cannot consist of the possession of an equal supply of armaments, but only through mutual trust.”
‘Pacem in terris’ received the best reception of any of the 20th-century encyclicals (encyclical refers to a letter from the Pope addressed to Roman Catholic Bishops). It was published in full by The New York Times and placed in the United Nations archives in New York in recognition of its historical significance. Pope Benedict described it as an immortal encyclical.
Pope Saint John XXIII
He was born in 1881 in Northern Italy (Bergamo, Lombardy) and named Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli. He was elected Pope in 1958 and took the name of Pope John XXIII. The name John was chosen over 500 years after it was previously used during the Western Schism, when Pope John XXII led the church as its head from 1316 to 1334.
Pope John XXIII was the head of the Catholic Church from October 1958 to June 1963 and was the 260th successor of St. Peter. His coronation was on 4 November 1958, and he was crowned wearing the 1877 Palatine tiara. He was canonised on 27 April 2014 by Pope Francis. His feast day falls on 11 October (which coincides with the day the Second Vatican Council that he called for, was opened).
He is the patron saint of papal delegates and the Second Vatican Council. He lived his life true to his motto of ‘Obedientia et Pax’ (Obedience and Peace), with Pope Paul VI declaring him a servant of God. He was affectionately known as the ‘Good Pope’ because of his jovial and benevolent nature, and is one of history’s most loved Popes.
He had strong views on equality for all and had a special relationship with the countries in Eastern Europe. He tried to improve relations between the Soviet Union and the United States of America, and fostered strong links and bonds with other Christian faiths. He named the first Cardinals from Japan, the Philippines, and Africa and also revolutionised the Roman Catholic Church by convening the Second Vatican Council.
He wrote a total of eight encyclicals, with ‘Peace on Earth’ being the final. Two of these encyclicals (‘Mater et magistra’ and ‘Pacem in terris’) have been regarded as especially important. In ‘Pacem in terris’, he sought to provide guidance for preventing nuclear wars in the future. According to Robert Hutchings, ‘Pacem in terris’ is one of the most profound and significant documents of our age. In September 1962, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer, which sadly led to his demise, two months after the release of the ‘Pacem in terris’ document.
Conclusion
‘Pacem in terris’ was the first encyclical in history that a Pope addressed to all men of good will, rather than only to the clergy and laypersons of the Church. As Christians around the world get ready to celebrate an important event in the Church calendar, it is of paramount relevance for each and every one of us, to pause and consider how we can contribute toward the goal of lasting ‘peace on Earth’.
The message of ‘Pacem in terris’ is timeless. It teaches us that peace is not merely the absence of war but also the presence of justice, equality, and respect for human dignity. In today’s context, where technology connects people but also creates divisions, it reminds us of our shared humanity. Every individual, whether big or small, has a role in fostering peace, whether by being kind to others, promoting justice in their communities, or supporting initiatives that reduce suffering globally.
The carol service at St. Peter’s College stands as a reminder of this universal call for peace. Through the harmonious voices of students, teachers, and alumni, the true essence of the season ‘hope, love, and peace’ shone brightly, and these timeless values call upon us to embrace our shared humanity, inspiring us to act with responsibility and compassion in our daily lives. As we move forward, let us pause to reflect on the teachings of ‘Pacem in terris’ and dedicate ourselves to building a world where peace is not merely a distant illusion but a lasting reality.
(Suranjith L. Seneviratne, has an interest in history writing, art writing and photography. Roshith Abeysundara is the Head of Compering and Naren Abeyakoon is the President of the St Peter’s College Media Unit)
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication