EVANGELII GAUDIUM - page 174

174
things in him is peace. Christ “is our peace” (
Eph
2:14). The Gospel message always begins with a
greeting of peace, and peace at all times crowns
and confirms the relations between the disciples.
Peace is possible because the Lord has overcome
the world and its constant conflict “by making
peace through the blood of his cross” (
Col
1:20).
But if we look more closely at these biblical texts,
we find that the locus of this reconciliation of
differences is within ourselves, in our own lives,
ever threatened as they are by fragmentation and
breakdown.
183
If hearts are shattered in thou-
sands of pieces, it is not easy to create authentic
peace in society.
230. The message of peace is not about a ne-
gotiated settlement but rather the conviction that
the unity brought by the Spirit can harmonize
every diversity. It overcomes every conflict by
creating a new and promising synthesis. Diver-
sity is a beautiful thing when it can constantly
enter into a process of reconciliation and seal a
sort of cultural covenant resulting in a “recon-
ciled diversity”. As the bishops of the Congo
have put it: “Our ethnic diversity is our wealth…
It is only in unity, through conversion of hearts
and reconciliation, that we will be able to help
our country to develop on all levels”.
184
183
 Cf. I. Q
uiles
, S.J.,
Filosofía de la educación personalista
,
Buenos Aires, 1981, 46-53.
184
 C
omité
P
ermanent
D
e
L
a
C
onférence
É
piscopale
N
ationale
D
u
C
ongo
,
Message sur la situation sécuritaire dans le
pays
(5 December 2012), 11.
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