Karol Darmoros
Stories marked by violence
The August 5 meeting was attended by people who deal with the effects of violence in various ways: mothers of missing persons, police officers, representatives of religious communities, authorities, academia, and entrepreneurs. They came from several states to share local peacebuilding initiatives.
The story of a mother searching for her son became an opportunity for Card. Parolin to remind everyone that peace is artisanal work, created every day. He encouraged those gathered to persevere. As he pointed out, their experiences can also inspire other places in the world suffering from violence.
Peace built locally
Participants spoke not only about violence, but also about ways to overcome it. In the state of Puebla, groups of families searching for missing persons cooperate with officials. A police officer from Ecatepec spoke about the cooperation between various churches and the introduction of a community-oriented policing model.
Representatives of the Mexican state of Oaxaca said that the Dialogue has become a source of comfort for priests serving in high-risk areas. Meanwhile, a delegate from San Luis Potosí pointed to the need to involve parishes in peacebuilding.
Card. Parolin assured that the National Dialogue for Peace has the support of the Holy See. He called it a source of hope for many parts of Mexico affected by violence.
