The annual course on Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) in Rome resumed this year, after being suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Titled “Greccio and La Verna: Sources of Justice, Peace, and Reconciliation”, the course was organised by the General Curia of the Order of Friars Minor in collaboration with the Pontifical University Antonianum (PUA) in Rome.
Friar Cosmas Francis OFM, the JPIC Coordinator for our Custody of St Anthony Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei was one of about 50 people, including guest professors, who participated. Held from 20 to 26 May 2024 at the PUA, the course drew people from at least 24 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.
The course aimed to provide analytical perspectives on social and environmental justice and peace through three thematic axes:
- Conflicts and Wars in the World: Examining cultural, economic, and religious causes.
- Justice, Peace, and Reconciliation: Exploring these concepts from Biblical, Christian, and Franciscan viewpoints.
- Franciscan Experiences: Discussing various Franciscan approaches to building justice, peace, and reconciliation.
In his inaugural greeting, Friar Agustín Hernández OFM, Rector of the PUA, used Laudato Si’ to illustrate how peace can be realised by returning to fundamental sources of reconciliation and peace as exemplified by St Francis, who is known as a man of peace.
The morning sessions covered the foundations of justice, peace, and reconciliation at the biblical level (Friar Darko Tepert, OFM General Secretary for Formation and Studies), the Magisterium of the Church (Professor Sergio Tanzarella) and Franciscan spirituality (Friar Giuseppe Buffon OFM).
The afternoon sessions focussed on peacebuilding projects — the Nagasaki Project in Japan (Friar Francis Furusato OFM), the Total Peace Initiative in Colombia (Professor Jairo Agudelo), the Franciscan Institute for the Culture of Peace in Split, Croatia (Friar Mijo Dzolan OFM), the reconciliation processes in Rwanda and Congo (Friar Jean-Claude Mulekya OFM), interreligious dialogue efforts in Istanbul, Turkey (Friar Antonio Duma), and philosopher Raúl Fornet-Betancourt’s proposal for intercultural philosophy aimed at dialogue and coexistence in conflictual settings.
On the fourth day, they went to La Verna, where Francis received the Stigmata 800 years ago. The physical wounds of the Stigmata of St Francis represent both the pain and joy he experienced. They also symbolise contemporary issues such as war, environmental crises, and personal wounds. By surrendering these wounds to a greater love, we can attain peace and new life.
On the final day, Friar Taucen Girsang and Friar Daniel Rodríguez Blanco from the OFM JPIC General Office spoke about spirituality, and the profile and mission of JPIC animators within the Franciscan Family.
“The course reinforced the importance of responding to God’s love by promoting peace and integrating with all of Creation,” said Friar Cosmas. “We left with a renewed commitment to preserving and working for peace, inspired by the Franciscan values of justice, peace, and reconciliation.”
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