“If you want peace, work for justice.”
This famous quote comes from Pope Paul VI’s address for the Day of Peace in 1972 and touches on the important connection between peace and justice. As we face many challenges that threaten peace and justice in our present day, the words of Pope Paul still ring out with the strength of truth.
We all want to see a more peaceful and just world, but what will it take to get us there? A great place to begin answering this question is with a more comprehensive understanding of global peace and justice and their relationship to one another.
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What Does “If You Want Peace, Work for Justice” Mean?
Pope Paul VI first spoke these words in his address for the 1972 World Day of Peace, and they form one of the most quoted lines in Catholic social teaching. The message is simple but profound: Peace cannot exist without justice.
When people or nations are treated unjustly, tension and unrest follow. True peace takes root only when people are treated with dignity and fairness—which is what it means to work for justice: standing up for the rights and intrinsic value of every person.
The connection between peace and justice is intrinsic. We use these words in our workplaces, our homes and everyday interactions. They help us describe the state of our souls or express ourselves when we feel wronged. Every person has experienced them firsthand, through moments of well-being or unease.
Peace and justice are also global words. We long to see them present in societies and economies around the world. We want the whole world to live in peace and operate in justice.
Here’s how Pope Paul VI explained the relationship between the two:
“It is difficult, but essential, to form a genuine idea of Peace. It is difficult for one who closes his eyes to his innate intuition of it, which tells him that Peace is something very human. This is the right way to come to the genuine discovery of Peace: if we look for its true source, we find that it is rooted in a sincere feeling for man. A Peace that is not the result of true respect for man is not true Peace. And what do we call this sincere feeling for man? We call it Justice.”
According to Pope Paul VI, justice is a sincere feeling for others. That sincerity looks different depending on the relationship:
By Pope Paul’s explanation, sincerity is something we owe each other by virtue of our worth as human beings. Any action or state of being that diminishes or does not recognize our human value is unjust.
When the state of the world feels uneasy, it can be difficult to know what to do or where to turn. Our own actions may not seem like enough, and yet we are called to speak out against injustices in the world. There are many simple ways each of us can work to promote peace and justice in the world. Here are three simple things you can do right now:
Peace and justice take on new life every Saturday in Huaquillas, Ecuador, where Father Robert Christy SVD and a team of volunteers serve over 150 meals to migrant families fleeing political and economic strife. Many arrive as strangers, carrying suspicion and prejudice along with their hunger. At Maria Madre de la Iglesia parish, they find something different: a warm meal, medical care and a welcoming community. It’s a living example of what Pope Paul VI meant by justice, a sincere feeling for others, put into action.
Divine Word Missionaries work to address issues related to peace and justice and to support those most affected by conflict. From fighting human trafficking to supporting migrants and refugees, our missionaries confront the sources of conflict and work to bring true, lasting peace.