Pope Paul has chosen the theme "If you want peace, defend life" for the tenth World Day of Peace in 1977. In his Peace Message he called for prayer and action to defend life against war, torture and starvation and re-emphasised the Church's teaching on abortion.
The World Day of Prayer for Peace is celebrated in England on January 30 and the specific theme chosen for this year by the Justice and Peace Commission is Human Rights and Torture.
