World Day Of Peace

January 1 is the feast of Mary, the Mother of God, but also marks World Peace Day which is a tradition inaugurated by Pope Paul VI in 1968. Traditionally the Vatican Post Office has issued a special postmark every January 1st. Collectively these postmarks can be very inspiring to read. Here is a list of the translation of some of these postmarks: • 1969 – “The Day Of Peace is celebrated the second time among all thinking men.” • 1971 – “Recognition of Man as a Brother; this is the condition for a stable Peace” • 1972 – “If you wish peace, labor for justice.” • 1973 – “Men can begin Peace.” • 1974 – “Peace is dependent on your goodwill.” • 1975 – “Reconciliation is the way of peace.” • 1976 – “The Consensus of the People is the way of peace.” • 1977 – “Day Dedicated to Nourishing Peace Throughout the World. If You Wish Peace, Cherish Life.” • 1978 – “Give Up Violence to Follow Peace.” • 1979 – “Let Peace Arise So Men May Be Drawn To Peace.” • 1980 – “Truth is the Strength of Peace; Hail Queen Of Peace.” • 1981 – “In Order to Serve Peace, Protect Freedom.” • 1983 – “A Colloquium Seeking Peace In Our Age” • 1985 – “Peace and Youth Progress Together” • 1988 – “Peace is the Most Sweet and Beautiful Name” • 1990 – “With God as Creator, Peace comes to all Things Created.” • 1991 – “There is peace only if there is strength of mankind who feels reverence and gives consent.” • 1992 – “The name of Peace is sweet and beneficial in itself.” • 1993 – “If you seek peace, the poor are Always Present with You.” • 1994 – “The Wise Woman Builds Peace.” • 1996 – “Let us give to Children a Time of Peace.” • 1997 – “We Come that you may have Grace and Peace.” • 1998 – “Every Gift Of Justice And Peace To All.” • 1999 – “Respect of Human Rights is the Essence of Lasting Peace” • 2000 – “Peace on Earth to those Beloved by God” Each year. the popes have issued messages on the World Day Of Peace. Here are the titles of their papers since 2001: 2001 - "Dialogue between cultures for a civilization of love and peace" 2002 - "No peace without justice, no justice without forgiveness" 2003 - "Pacem in terris: a permanent commitment" 2004 - "An ever-timely commitment: teaching peace" 2005 - "Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with the good" 2006 - "In Truth, Peace" 2007 - "The Human Person, the Heart of Peace" 2008 - "The Human Family, a Community of Peace" 2009 - "Fighting Poverty to Build Peace" 2010 - " If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation" 2011 - "Religious Freedom, the Path to Peace" 2012 - "Educating Young People in Justice and Peace" 2013 - "Blessed are the Peacemakers" 2014 - "Fraternity, the Foundation and Pathway to Peace" 2015 - "No longer slaves, but brothers and sisters" 2016 - "Overcome Indifference and Win Peace" 2017 - "Nonviolence: a Style of Politics for Peace" 2018 - "Migrants and refugees: men and women in search of peace" 2019 - "Good Politics is at the Service of Peace" 2020 - "Peace as a journey of hope: dialogue, reconciliation and ecological conversion" 2021 - "A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace" 2022 - "Dialogue Between Generations, Education and Work: Tools for Building Lasting Peace" 2023 - "No one can be saved alone. Combatting Covid-19 together, embarking together on paths of peace" 2024 - "Artificial Intelligence and Peace" 2025 - “Forgive Us Our Trespasses: Grant Us Your Peace”