Cardinal Bo: ‘We need a new paradigm’ for peace
Summary
At an international Catholic gathering in Rome, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Myanmar urged the Church to reconsider legitimate defence through the framework of Gospel nonviolence. Speaking by broadcast to participants in the initiative “Unarmed and Disarming Peace: The Church’s Emerging Paradigm Shift to Gospel Nonviolence,” he argued that nonviolence is not passivity, surrender, or indifference to danger. Instead, he presented civilian-based defence, unarmed civilian protection, and active nonviolent resistance as possible ways to protect people without reproducing violence. Cardinal Bo also called for greater investment in diplomacy, restorative justice, early-warning peace networks, and systematic de-escalation. Drawing on Myanmar’s experience of conflict and displacement, he emphasized the themes “Peace is possible” and “Peace is the only way,” while acknowledging that nonviolence requires courage and resistance to injustice. He linked the approach to Jesus, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr., and argued that peacebuilding requires both structural reform and inner transformation. Participants reportedly received a message and blessing from Pope Leo XIV, delivered by Archbishop Giovanni Ricchiuti of Pax Christi Italy. The event was hosted by the Catholic Institute for Nonviolence, a Pax Christi project, and included theologians, pastoral leaders, peacebuilders, educators, and practitioners from multiple countries.
Watchmen Signals
Biblical Context
The article has a direct biblical connection because it explicitly presents nonviolence as a Gospel-based approach and refers to Jesus’ teaching. Jesus teaches peacemaking, love of enemies, prayer for persecutors, refusal of retaliatory escalation, and active goodness toward opponents. These passages support the article’s stated Christian rationale for courageous nonviolence and reconciliation. They do not, by themselves, establish that every proposed modern strategy—such as civilian-based defence or early-warning networks—is mandated by Scripture, nor do they settle all questions about the protection of people from aggression. The article’s emphasis on rejecting revenge and overcoming evil with good also corresponds to apostolic teaching in Romans 12. These are direct ethical and discipleship connections, not evidence that the event fulfills biblical prophecy.
Biblical Sources
Scripture references supporting the biblical context above.
Jesus commands love for enemies, blessing those who mistreat believers, and doing good without retaliatory expectation, closely matching the article’s rejection of revenge and dehumanization.
Jesus blesses peacemakers, directly supporting the article’s emphasis on peacebuilding and nonviolent action.
Jesus rejects retaliation, teaches love for enemies, and calls for prayer for persecutors; these teachings directly underlie the article’s Gospel nonviolence framework.
Paul instructs Christians not to repay evil for evil, to pursue peace where possible, and to overcome evil with good, supporting the article’s ethical argument against cycles of violence.
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