Pacem in Terris

Pacem in Terris ( " About the Peace on Earth" ) is the title of one of Pope John XXIII. published on April 11, 1963 encyclical " about peace among all peoples in truth, justice, love and freedom."

Already in his Apostolic Letter Il religioso convegno he had laid the foundation for this newsletter.

In this known as peace encyclical Scripture John XXIII responded. on the then international situation: Two years after the erection of the Berlin Wall and only a few months after the Cuban Missile Crisis - During the Cold War - noted John XXIII. clear in his encyclical that conflicts " not settled by force of arms, but through contracts and negotiations " were.

Also stressed John XXIII. the importance of respect for human rights as a necessary consequence of the Christian understanding of man. He noted, " that man has the right to life, to bodily integrity, as well as the appropriate means for a reasonable living. " By the Pope approved of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations in 1948 and supported, he integrated the concept of inalienable human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Catholic social teaching.

In addition, Pacem in Terris was the first encyclical, in which a Pope turned not only to the whole of the Catholics and believers, but " all people of good will."

Pacem in Terris was beyond the last of Pope John XXIII. wrote encyclical. Only two months after its publication succumbed John XXIII. his serious cancer.

In the title Pacem in Terris ( Peace on earth ) is the Lk 2,14 EU receiving beginning of words ( incipit ) of the Latin original text:

" PACEM IN TERRIS, quam homines universi cupidissime Quovis tempore appetiverunt, condiment confirmarique non posse constat, nisi ordine, quem Deus constituit, sancte servato. "

" Peace on earth, after all people at all times demanded eagerly, can be established and sustained only if the set by God be scrupulously observed. "

In this encyclical took the Czechoslovak " peace priest " with their name a reference.