POPE PAUL has chosen "The Real Weapons of Peace" as the theme for World Day of Peace observances next New Year's Day.
Announcing the Pope's theme for this eighth World Day of Peace, the Vatican spokesman, Dr Federico Alessandrini, said the Pope would draw attention to the ten years which have elapsed since the speech he gave before the United Nations in New York on October 4. 1965, by urging all Heads of State, religious authorities, Christians and men of goodwill to implement peace in his Day of Peace message.
"Peace is gaining ground, but so is violence," said Dr Alessandrini. But he maintained that peace would prevail.
But he added: "As in every other struggle by mankind against sickness, misery, injustice, sin, so the battle for peace c,in he won only with special weapons." Dr Alessandrini said the Pope's message would point to such weapons for peace.
He went on: "Let us not use wrong weapons such as atomic terror, passive acceptance of injustice, cowardice, violence and, above all, the arms race.
"The arms race has become a mad machine. ruinous and scandalous. Through its quantitative and qualitative excess in mortal weapons, the arms race transforms national and international security into a disastrous insecurity. Instead of preserving people from war, the arms race prepares for war."