Pax Christi is an international Catholic peace movement.
History
Pax Christi (Latin for Peace of Christ) was established in France in 1945 as a reconciliation work between the French and the Germans after the World War II. As of 2007, it exists in more than 60 countries. Pax Christi constitutes a non-governmental organization (NGO) according to the rules of the UNESCO, the United Nations, the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva and the Council of Europe.
Its philosophical foundation stems from the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus and the tradition laid forth by the older Pax Romana ICMICA/MIIC (leaders of which founded Pax Christi in 1945), and Pax Christi strives to play a pioneer role in the research of solutions of armed conflicts. In 1983, it received the Prize for Peace Education of the AFL. It is member of the International Coalition for the Decade of the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence.
Peace Work
Pax Christi works mainly on the following issues, either by being directly involved or by means of advocacy:
- Human Security and Armed Conflict
- Economic Factors of Armed Conflict
- Human Rights, the Rule of Law and Armed Conflict
- Conflict Transformation
- Peace Building
- Youth Work and Peace Education
- Spirituality and Praxis of Nonviolence
Organization
Pax Christi is made up of national sections of the movement, affiliated organizations and partner organizations. Its International Secretariat is located in Brussels. The current chairman is the Belgian Cardinal Godfried Daneels.
National sections
Each national section is composed of local groups who enjoy a great degree of autonomy for their priorities, within the national common frame. There are over 20 national sections, among them:
- Pax Christi Aotearoa-New Zealand
- Pax Christi Australia
- Pax Christi Austria
- Pax Christi Denmark
- Pax Christi Flanders
- Pax Christi France
- Pax Christi Germany
- Pax Christi Ireland
- Pax Christi Italy
- Pax Christi Luxembourg
- Pax Christi Netherlands
- Pax Christi Philippines
- Pax Christi Poland
- Pax Christi Portugal
- Pax Christi Puerto Rico
- Pax Christi Slovakia
- Pax Christi Switzerland
- Pax Christi United Kingdom
- Pax Christi United States of America
- Pax Christi Wallonie-Bruxelles
Affiliated organization and partners
In areas without sections, civil society groups or organizations can apply to become an affiliated organization or partner with Pax Christi International. Affiliated organizations enjoy voting rights and contribute financially to Pax Christi, while partners are not contributing member and have no voting rights.
Affiliated organizations and partners are very different: peace, non-violence and human rights groups, research institutes and international religious congregations. One group with close ties is the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, a sister group of Pax Christi in the Anglican Church.
References
See also
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