Pax Christi: European Rearme would have fatal consequences for humanity

The International Catholic Movement for Peace Peace of Christ This 2025 celebrates 80 years since its foundation. Martha Inés Romero, general secretary of the organization with an extensive experience in the defense of human rights, reflects in conversation with ACI Press on the greatest challenges they face in an increasingly unstable and convulsive world landscape.

This anniversary, inaugurated on March 13 with an act in Brussels and will culminate in Florence (Italy) with a conference to reflect on its future and a pilgrimage to Auschwitz to commemorate the tragedy that originated the movement, becomes even more significant in a context of growing militarization and global conflicts.

Romero, who leads the Catholic initiative for non -violence in Latin America and the Caribbean, explains that since its foundation after World War II they have promoted fair peace in various regions, including Latin America, Holy Land, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rearme in Europe: “If we do not step back, humanity will suffer”

By stopping his gaze in the current panorama, he expresses with concern the arms escalation and especially the rearmament in Europe, something that in his opinion “would have fatal consequences for humanity.”

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that the “European Rearme” era began with measures that will mobilize up to 800,000 million euros in the continent.

“If we do not step back, humanity will suffer. And it is not necessarily Nigeria, as it was a while ago because there was uranium, but Germany, France or the United States. The big problem is who are in power and what is the geopolitics with economic interests behind, ”says Romero.

It also expresses his trust “in the diplomacy of peace that Pope Francis has developed” and stresses that “every effort made worth to press the states to definitely do not follow that game.”

Also, with respect to the situation in Ukraine, he regrets that a “transactional” diplomacy is being carried out in which “the common good is not being thought of.” “They are not intended to relieve, repair victims, or reconcile two countries that could be brothers.”

The great challenges of Peace of Christ

The expert highlights that this movement not only works for peace, but also for ecological justice. Specifically, he explains the difference between climate justice and ecological justice, arguing that the problem “goes beyond” emission reduction: “there can be no peace without ecological justice,” he insists. “We show that there is a great interconnection between war and environmental damage,” he adds.

He assures that another of the great current challenges is also the “crisis of multilateralism and international diplomacy”, as well as a detriment of international cooperation in favor of peace.

This situation adds, according to the expert, in a crisis of civilization and “ethical and cultural values.” For Romero, there is an absence of cultural and ethical values ​​that go “beyond the gospel and any religion.”

The fundamental role of the Catholic Church

With extensive experience in the defense of human rights, Romero – born in Colombia -, remarks the “fundamental” role of the Catholic Church at work for peace.

In particular, the Catholic Initiative for Non -Violence, which was born in 2016 by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, now dicastery for integral human development. This project, according to Romero, aims to “confront the idea of ​​just war with proposals for a fair peace defended throughout tradition, from San Agustín.”

“The Old Testament, but above all the Gospel of Jesus, is an absolutely non -violent gospel. It is about confronting Jesus’ words with the violence of invading power and the violence of local power, ”he emphasizes.

He remarks that Pope Francis has been a reference in the promotion of peace and compares it to John XXIII, highlighting how throughout these twelve years of pontificate he has addressed fundamental issues such as climate crisis and artificial intelligence: “I think from Peace on earth There had not been a brave and bold enough pope, ”he says.

It also highlights the duty of the so -called “people of God” in favor of peace, through tools that allow them to “analyze and transform conflicts from a non -violent culture.”

The power of change at the local level

In addition, he insists that a “real experience” is necessary and not just an academic effort from the theoretical point of view. “It is also necessary to go through the healing of trauma, and reconciliation. We have seen, for example, in Africa, members of armed group bands committed and left their machetes at the end of a workshop. ”

He also explains that Peace of Christ He works with local communities to strengthen solidarity and ethical values ​​in a world marked by individualism and indifference. “We believe in the power of the local, to rebuild trust from the local level,” he says.